Long shadows cast behind the plastic skeletons and reflected off the gold painted dishware that spilled from the wooden chest and broken wooden boat. “It’s probably one of the kids inside playing with a walkie talkie...” It was an assumption from Breana that was quickly proven wrong seconds after the final word left her lips when a grotesque scaly looking creature lunged at them from the bushes directly behind the bench they had been sitting on.
Both girls had scrambled to their feet just in time to evade the shaping sound of the sharpened teeth or small pointed claws that sought to claim them as it’s next meal. With an upper torso of a starved goblin and lower portion like a snake, the youma’s face contorted into one of displeasure and disappointment before lunging once more like a cobra at Fiona’s legs.
Immediately Breana swing her side bag at the creature like a batter hitting a ball. An impossible thing to dodge, the monster took the full force of the blow to the face sending it tumbling backwards.
“Come on!” Fiona reached out and grabbed her sister's hand urging her to follow. Side by side they ran down the winding streets of Destiny City. The fight or flight response to what had just happened pushed the two into overdrive forcing them to just keep running and not look back; there was no need to visually confirm that the creature that chased them had not yet given up especially with it letting out a banshee sounding scream every few blocks.
Liryn had spent the day out and about on his wanderings. It had been a quiet day, with a slight n** in the newly-turned autumn air, although Liryn hadn’t felt it too much - not with the way that his tabby-grey coat had grown fluffier of late.
Quiet as the day had been, it was hard to miss how quickly night seemed to fall these days, it seeming to have almost crept up to the point that the long days of summer was starting to seem like almost a distant memory.
Still despite the too-quick way that night seemed to fall, the day had been a pretty productive one for the small tabby bobtail, as he picked his way through the quiet streets.
But given that this was Destiny City, it was only a matter of time before the quiet broke.
It came first in the form of an aura, dark and chaotic and cold, paws pausing into arrested stillness as purplish eyes glanced around as if trying to ascertain the direction of its source…
And as it happened that was exactly what Liryn was trying to do, because whilst he recognised the aura of being one that belonged to a youma, it wasn’t as if trying to track down auras was an exact science - even if the one trying to do the tracking was a mauvian.
Then it came next in a thin, keening scream, the sound enough to make his fur fluff up until he resembled more of a fluffball than a cat.
He headed towards the creepy sound at a cat-trot, paws cat silent on the ground, taking the hunch that if he followed the sound for long enough then he’d find the youma and hopefully before it had the chance to hurt some poor unfortunate.
It was a blessing in disguise that both girls were fairly active what with Fiona’s ice skating and Breana's frequent outdoor activities. Had either of them been in any less shape they would have been feeling that pinching sensation in their side by now.
“We need to split up!” Memories of an incident earlier this year flooded back into her mind. A ballroom full of these monstrous creatures attacking guests attending the New Year's Masquerade. So much panic caused by chaos as civilians scrambled toward the entry doors.
“WHAT?! Have you lost your mind?” Breana glanced over at her sister with a look that questioned her sister's mental health. “That is the WORST idea I’ve ever heard.”
“Bre… Please. You have to listen to me…It’s our only chance to either confuse it...or lose it.” Fiona paused to draw in a breath of air, talking while running was making it increasingly difficult to breath let alone explain her reasoning. “I’ve seen these things before.”
“You have?!? When?”
“At the Umbrae Hotel. I’ll explain later. It’s just... We can’t fight it.” The last statement was said with such finality Bri could only purse her lips in frustration and do as her sister suggested.
“One block, no further.” White hair whipped behind her as they ran across the street.
Fiona nodded her head in agreement, “You go right I’ll stay straight, take the first alley you see and we’ll meet on the other side. Go!” In that instant their hands slid from one another and they parted ways as planned. With her sister’s retreating form now blocked by the brick building covered in graffiti, Fi slowed her pace to ensure that the youma would mistaken her slowing as her growing tired and choose follow her instead.
Another shrilling scream caused the blue haired girl to wince as she reached into her coat pocket and produced her henshin pen. A handle covered in an ice crystal texture with a blue orb resting on top, she looked into the blood red eyes of her soon to be opponent “Just keep running.” she silently begged before powering up to face the youma one on one.
A half a block away Breana continued running at full speed till she spotted alley between two tall apartment buildings. Reaching out with her left hand, she grabbed ahold of the PVC downspout to make a sharp turn which propelled her into a black hefty bag full of garbage that had been conveniently kicked over into the traffic right of way causing her to stumble forward into a dumpster and come to a rather immediate stop. “Ow...” she groaned, shaking the feeling back into her arm which took the brunt of the fall.
Even with the screams to help guide him and with him trotting as fast as he could, it still took Liryn much longer than he would have liked to track down the youma.
He was close though - he was sure of it - after all for a start the aura felt much nearer than before.
Just how close was ‘closer’ was hard to tell - although going on how much closer the scream sounds seemed to be, Liryn was going to hazard a guess that it wouldn’t take much longer before he found the youma.
The sudden bloom of warmth of a new aura distracted him, although Liryn was familiar enough with auras to recognise it as belonging to that of an Order senshi and - going by the strength of it - most likely a basic one at that.
Perhaps it was just a coincidence, but he couldn’t help but wonder whether whoever the aura belonged to had picked up on the youma too - after all like the youma’s aura it felt relatively close - close enough for him to think that perhaps they could pool their efforts…
The sound of footsteps, broke into his thoughts, the sound loud and pounding - something… Or perhaps someone, coming in his direction and quickly.
Then they stopped to be replaced by a dull almost ‘thud’ sound that was just as quickly followed by a voice.
Given that he was already heading in that generalised direction, it was no hardship for Liryn to continue to move forward, his feet cat quiet on the ground.
Although he was pretty confident that the sound was not the youma - because he was pretty sure that that had been an ‘Ow’ and ows did not particularly strike him as a youma thing… Then there was the fact that he could still hear the youma screaming.
While Alcor kept the creature busy, Breana reached up to grab ahold of the dumpster to pull herself up. It was a task in and of itself to finally stand on shaky legs with how disorienting the fall had been. How she had managed further injury aside from a possibly bruised shin and sore arm was beyond her but now wasn’t exactly the time to look a gift horse in the mouth. One block, I can do this. Wait for me Fi…
Back on the parallel street, the Senshi of Cold jumped backwards just in time to dodge another of the youma’s lunges. The speed boon granted to her upon powering up was a blessing previously forgotten that she’d receive. At the moment though, all she could do is hope her sister was able to get away and wasn’t stubborn enough to come back until she was able to figure out how to dust the creature.
The source of the voice turned out to be a young woman, a nearby street light glinting off pale hair as she leaned - or at least appeared to lean - against a nearby dumpster.
Despite the proximity of the Order and the Chaotic auras, neither of them came from the woman which suggested that she was a civilian and one that didn’t appear to have seen him.
Not that it would have mattered if she had as it wouldn’t be the first time that Liryn had played ordinary cat and nor would it be the last time - after all he was a cat who had a not-so-secret fondness for scritches and he had found that looking cute was generally good for a stroking pay off.
It was a moot point in this situation, with the youma so close and Liryn knew that he needed to push on - after all the last thing he needed was for the youma to decide to head this way and towards the civilian and there was the Order aura to think off as well and the fact that the source could perhaps do with some back up.
And yet…
And yet he found himself hesitating, a small frown on his feline features as purplish eyes glanced towards the woman thoughtfully.
Movement on her right elicited a startled gasp from Bri. Without thinking about it she grabbed ahold of a broken piece of 1” x 2” piece of wood framing material and spun around brandishing the makeshift weapon with every intent on striking whomever the long shadow, cast from the streetlamp, belonged to. Determined eyes scanned the horizon at eye level then quickly turned to a bewildered expression till her gaze drifted downward and rested on a precious looking kitten.
Almost instantly the piece of wood fell from her loose grip and clattered on the ground beside her. Now was really not the time to be talking to a cat but before she realized what she was doing, Bri fell to her knees and reached out towards the gray tabby “I’m so sorry,” she cooed, honestly hoping the poor thing didn’t run away and end up in the path of the monster by mistake.
He hadn’t meant to tarry so long, hadn’t meant to tarry at all but he had and she’d spotted him. Well okay not immediately - in fact he had had to sit for quite a few moments as blue eyes glanced around and above him - his purplish eyes studying the piece of wood clenched tight in her hands.
It was not, at least to his experience, a normal reaction - not even for Destiny City - although that wasn’t to say that there weren’t times when a piece of wood could come in handy.
She was just a civilian though and it wasn’t safe - and yet still he hesitated, even as she finally glanced down and finally saw him…
Still hesitated even as the piece of wood fell to the ground with a clatter that seemed abnormally loud. Because truth be told there was almost something about her.
Oh it was nothing he could put a paw on and nothing that he could really explain.
He padded towards the woman as she stretched out her hands towards him, letting a purr escaping his throat, only stopping when he was within hand distance and then he looked up with his purplish eyes as the street light glinted off the jade star on his forehead.
For a long moment he stared unblinkingly, his purplish eyes considering - the something - perhaps a hunch, perhaps a feeling refusing to go away.
And then he decided to take a chance and deliberately spoke, his voice cheerful as he said simply “It’s okay.”
Breana froze then blinked several times, “... excuse me?”
“Did you…” She paused then looked over her shoulder; nobody there… Stormy blue-grey eyes scanned the street and still she saw nothing but a piece of trash roll down the street. Carefully she picked the kitten up and held him at eye level.
I must be going crazy…[Despite knowing she was probably going mental from running head first into the dumpster; in that moment she wore an expression full of skepticism as her mouth moved as if she wanted to ask a question but couldn’t decide on the words. “What did you just say?” she finally asked.
Liryn was kind used to the dumbfounded look that seemed to be a popular side effect on the occasions where he revealed that he was perfectly able to speak and so he had sat easily enough whilst the woman went through the rigmarole of glancing around an alleyway which - apart from them - was empty.
Time really wasn’t on their side however, what with the youma so close and Liryn had been about to pipe up again however the woman picked that moment to finally come to some sort of decision and scooped him up in order to hold him at eye level.
Even then, however, she stared at him for a long few moments before speaking with an expression that seemed somewhere between skepticism and confusion.
“I said it’s okay” he said his cheerful voice matter-of-fact as his purplish eyes stared into hers “Because an apology isn’t really necessary.”
A pause for a moment and then he continued “Although perhaps it would be better for me to ask if you’re okay?” He made it a question, although truth be told she didn’t really look all that okay.
Nope nope… definitely not okay. Talking to cats that only meowed in reply was one thing, actually holding a conversation with a feline, no matter how cute the kitten was, definitely constituted as a definitive no.
A crash on the parallel street startled her anew. Whipping her head to the side Breana set the kitten down abrubtly, “Fi...” she whispered. Fear and worry flashed across her face despite harsh shadows that manipulated such expressions. Perhaps it was the bond she shared with her twin, but in her heart Bri knew her sister was in trouble, that the creature that chased after them hadn’t found a new pray but rather managed to catch up to Fiona instead.
“I gotta go back.” words spoken more so to convince herself that meeting up at the end of the alley was no longer an option. Running away when someone was clearly in danger, whether her feeling was right or not in regards to it being her sister, she had to turn back and help.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the tall brick building, Alcor laid pinned to the ground with the goblin looking naga on top of her. It’s long serpent tail coiled around her left leg rendering it useless.
Someone… help me...please… A silent plea for anyone who might be near. THinking she could take on the monster alone was probably the worst idea she could have had. Terrified of the prospect that she may fery well die, Alcor’s hands shot out and wrapped around the youma’s throat, the only way to keep the wicked row of sharp teeth from from feasting on her flesh. However, it did not prevent the monster from curling it’s sharp claws into her wrists in an attempt to dislodge her grip. “Touch of cold!” she hissed through clenched teeth.
Just like the first two times she had used the attack, Alcor’s hands turned a bluish hue. Alarmed by the sudden spread of biting cold along its upper torso and across its jaw, the youma let out another banshee wale forcing the Senshi to relinquish her hold so she could cover her own ears.
Perhaps the woman might have answered, perhaps not, but at that moment there was a loud crashing sound from nearby.
The youma. It had to be - because if not it was one almighty and convenient coincidence. Given the closeness of the chaotic aura, however, Liryn was betting on it being the former.
As the thought flitted through his mind he found himself being shifted and unceremoniously placed back on the ground, it clear from the other woman’s actions that her attention was no longer on him as a look of what appeared to be a mixture of fear and anxiety flitted across her face.
“I gotta go back.” For a moment her spoken words reminded him of another woman and another nearby youma, for all that he had seen from his brief interaction, they weren’t really all that alike.
It was enough however for him to pad across the small bit of distance separating them until he was standing in front of and call out in a voice that was - at least for those that knew him - unusually serious “Wait!”
He would wait until she looked down and in his direction before repeating himself “Wait” his purplish eyes as serious as his voice as he told her “I think you should have this” he was already moving as he spoke the words, launching himself into a credible semblance of a backflip, a couple of items clattering down as his paws touched down on the ground.
The ‘this’ on closer examiner would appear to be a phone along with what appeared to be some sort of pen - albeit one with an oversized top.
He turned to look at the woman again from the other side of the two objects, his purplish eyes solemn “These are for you...” He started at the same time that another of the thin, keening screams rang out from near - the sound close enough for it to be virtually on top of them.
He continued speaking albeit as fast he could whilst still making his words legible “Listen I need you to pick up both of those items and then hold up the one that looks like a pen and call out Eleonora Power, Make-Up with as much feeling as you can muster.”
As he spoke Liryn knew he was taking a chance and a very big one at that, however the tabby mauvian couldn’t shake the feeling of it being the right thing to do.
Breana paused. She looked at the kitten with skepticism then down to the objects beside him and back up. Baby-blue slate colored eyes locked with slitted purple. For a brief moment she hesitated. Why not… I’m already going insane as is. With a sigh she leaned down and picked up the two objects that definitely hadn’t been there a moment ago then did as instructed. “Eleonora Power, Make-Up!”
Warmth Wrapped around her body like a blanket of summer air. Unfortunately that sensation was not meant to last. All too soon the temperature dropped rather dramatically and when Bri looked down she nearly flipped. “WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO MY CLOTHES?” It wasn’t her intention to yell quite that loudly while she grabbed fistfulls of white fabric in a feeble attempt to hold the slit in her skirt closed. Bare legs, bare arms, bare stomach; oh my God it is so freaking cold right now! “Cat! Where are my pants?” Almost instantly her teeth began to chatter. Unlike her sister Fiona, who worked at an ice rink, the cold did bother her… a lot.
For a long moment Liryn found himself wondering whether the woman would do it as he found himself on the receiving end of a blue-eyed gaze full of skepticism, he stared back at her unblinkingly his purplish eyes still looking serious.
Perhaps it was convincing, perhaps not, however eventually she did as he’d asked and picked up the phone and the henshin pen…
And then it soon became apparent that his hunch, his chance had paid off as the unknown woman whose name he still didn’t know turned into a new minted senshi, the warmth of her aura blooming to life with the same strength as the other nearby aura.
Unfortunately the newly awakened Sailor Eleonora didn’t seem particularly happy, even though Liryn thought that the white and the flame reds and oranges of her outfit pretty pretty.
Then again Liryn had the benefit of being able to grow a winter coat for the colder weather, his tabby grey fur already a lot fluffier than it had been back at the height of the summer.
“Your clothes that you were wearing before are still there” he said, “And when you aren’t like this,” and by ‘this’ he was referring to her current senshi-ness, “You’ll find yourself once again in them.”
He heard the monster wail again, the seriousness slipping back into his voice and reflecting in his eyes as he said “You need to be careful Eleonora,” he used her senshi name “There is a youma nearby - or as some call them monsters. If you concentrate you can feel it - like chaos and wrongness - but now that you’re Sailor Eleonora you’ll be able to fight it and I’ll help you too.”
No truer words had been spoken. Way too uncomfortably near there was a darkness that set itself apart from night, a concentration of evil co mingled with an aura somewhat akin to the little tabby. “Just… d-don’t leav-v-ve me.” A fierce shiver raced up her spine.
Far more gentler than before she scooped the kitten up and cradled it in her arms. Yes, she was definitely using him as a temporary portable warmer. “I still-ll-l have quest-t-tions for you if we m-make it out alive...” With a fair amount of haste, Eleonora turned on her heel and ran back the way she had come when she parted ways with Fi, despite knowing that she should go find her sister.
At the intersection the Senshi of Heat came to an immediate hault upon seeing someone much like her, a girl in a weird outfit, struggling with the monster Liryn had tried to describe. “Now what?” Given just a few moments ago she was prepared to charge after the thing in her street clothes; now she was thinking that probably wouldn’t have been a good idea.
He made no protest as Eleonora scooped him up, his voice gentling as he said “I won’t leave you to face this alone Eleonora” because when all was said and done he was mauvian and his knew his duty.
“And of course we’ll make it out alive” he continued, a bit of the cheerfulness from earlier slipping into his voice “You are much stronger when you are like this and you have magic too that will help you” he said the words with utmost confidence “And you have me too - this isn’t the first youma I’ve face and it certainly won’t be the last - and my claws are plenty sharp when they need to be.”
He also had the kitty beam, if it came to that, although given that it was kind of two-edged sword it something that Liryn planned to hold back as a last resort.
It didn’t take long for them to discover the source of the chaotic aura, partly since being powered up made Eleonora way faster and partly because as it when they reached the intersection the youma was there as was the source of the other order aura.
It was a nasty thing, but then again Liryn had yet to come across a youma that wasn’t nasty. The question interrupted his mental musings and he looked up “I can distract it with my claws and get it away from the other senshi you can hit it with your magic” he said. Given the size difference between him and the youma it may have perhaps seemed liked he was joking, if not for the matter-of-factness of his voice and the fact that his eyes were completely serious.
“There are things that you can throw as well once the youma is away from the other senshi - and as I mentioned before - you are stronger now so you can hit harder” and the alley had things that could be improvised as a weapon - such as the nearby bin lid or even the bin itself amongst other things. “I would try your magic first though” he stared up at her for a long moment in concentration before continuing “I should have mentioned it but as Eleonora you are the Senshi of Heat and as for your magic I would try calling out ‘Touch of Heat’.” As for what it did would be for the new senshi to find out, but the words in themselves seemed right to Liryn.
The name of the attack alone gave reason enough for the newly henshined senshi to put the cat down. If the word ‘touch’ meant anything, holding the little feline probably would be ill advised. Just like before, Eleonora followed the little ones directions and was surprised when her hands began to glow a redish hue.
No time for further questions, the Senshi of Heat ran towards the fallen girl to render what aid she could.
Bits of street debris dug into the back of Alcor’s head; though she was pretty sure she had managed to avoid breaking skin when her head hit the concrete, the dull throb was starting to get worse the more she struggled. Too preoccupied with the youma that effectively had her pinned to the ground, the Senshi of Cold remained unaware that her silent prayer had been answered and help had arrived. For far too long the monsters tail constricted around her leg making it go numb that she hadn’t realized its grip had loosened till pins and needles shot up her leg.
All too abruptly the creatures attention seemed to shift, its struggles no longer focussed on trying to kill her but rather to get away; from what, she didn’t know. Regardless, Alcor managed to pull herself free once the youma's hold on her loosened enough for her to roll to the side. Then, and only then, did she finally notice they were not alone. Holding on to the goblin looking naga’s tail like a snake wrangler was a senshi, much like herself. “Watch out!” she yelled when the youma turned its attention on her fully, lashing out like a cobra where instead of pointed fangs dripping with poison were sharp claws that were no less deadly.
Had the situation been anything other than dangerous, a startled laugh would have erupted from the Senshi of Cold by the way the girl wearing belly-dancer attire dropped the things tail and almost out of instinct balled her fist and punched the youma in the face; something the monster clearly didn’t see coming. “OW ow ow ow ow!” she heard the girl yell, all the while shaking her hand as if she’d just punched a wall.
It was a fascinating thing to watch as Eleonora’s hands started to glow with a reddish tint, but Liryn didn’t watch for long knowing that he had his own part to play in helping to rescue the trapped senshi from the nasty snake and goblin hybrid of a youma.
He dashed forward, with a feline hiss at the youma, fur fluffing up at the monster that had dared to target the senshi.
Given that it served to make him resemble a miniature fluff ball, as an intimidation tool it was most likely useless, however Liryn didn’t seem to have noticed as he charged the youma.
His target was the monster’s back and specifically the part where snakey tail met goblin-like torso, his purplish eyes half on the placement of the youma’s claws as he tried to give the thing a taste of his own claws by virtue of a savage rake.
Hopefully his efforts combined with Eleonora’s would be enough, to at least shift the thing, but if not he had more claw swipes where the first had come from and was happy to introduce the youma to them.
The youma shrieked then turned glowing red eyes upon the guardian cat and hissed. “Careful” Eleonora gasped. With its back once more facing her, the Senshi of Heat put what strength she had into a blow directed at the back of the monster's neck.
Several feet away, Alcor managed to pull herself up onto shaky feet. Unlike alleyways that often times were littered with many objects perfect for these kinds of situations, mainstreets however had fewer things to use to defend oneself. Fortunately, there was always room to improvise.
Lining the streets of Destiny city, staked in the ground by pointed pieces of wood, were signs with huge ‘vote for me 2016’ letters for each candidate running a political campaign. Quickly the senshi of Cold seized one of them. Dirt clung to the end but that mattered little as she ripped the piece of laminated card stock paper off the stake and joined the fray. Like a slayer bringing an end to a vampire, Alcor plunged the piece of wood into where the monster's heart would be assuming it had one.
Almost immediately the animalistic sounds it had been making for the better part of the last fifteen minutes finally ceased. Fierce glowing red eyes became as dull as an unpolished stone. Blood did not pour from the wound as one would expect, just fine pieces dust which disappeared into nothingness as a breeze blew through the empty streets.
Eleonora stood in the street, mouth agape as she stared at the area where the youma had been just seconds ago. Now… explanations were in order; that is, if only she could form the words to ask the questions that required answers after the bizarre spectacle she just saw.
Liryn stared at the youma as the thing turned its red eyes towards him, his own purplish eyes unimpressed.
Hissing wasn’t particularly original, after all it wasn’t the first time that a youma had hissed at him and it most likely wouldn’t be the last either. Besides he knew the hiss trick too and quite frankly his had been better.
Although ‘better’ was perhaps a matter of opinion, given that combined as it was with his smaller body it was perhaps about as imposing as his fluffing up had been.
He heard Eleonora call out to him to be careful as he continued to stare down the youma and much as he wanted to give her a reassuring cat grin, Liryn knew that he had to keep half an eye on the thing’s claws on the off-chance that the stupid thing decided to attempt to try and swipe back at him in turn - although it didn’t stop him from taking the opportunity to try and take another swipe at the monster.
Perhaps the thing might have tried to attack him back or perhaps it might have tried to go for Eleonora, if not for the efforts of the other senshi also going on the attack.
Although focused as he was on the monster, Liryn’s only warning was when the thing gave an almighty shriek, having just about time to launch himself into a jump towards the ground before the goblin-snake cross monster burst unceremoniously into dust.
The silence seemed almost startling after the thin, keening screams from earlier and he looked first towards Eleonora and then towards the unknown senshi that the two of them had stepped in to help before once again looking back at Eleonora “Are you both okay?”
While Eleonora nodded her head dumbly, the makeshift weapon Alcor had been holding slipped from her grip. “I’m fine…” she replied, “Thank you for saving me.” The senshi in blue added still in a bit of a daze.
“I’m - I’m glad we made it.” Leaning over, arms stretched out, the Senshi of Heat motioned for the kitten to come near so she could pick him up again. “I wish I could stay a bit longer but I need to go find my sister. And this little one,” Eleonora looked at the purple eyed feline “has some explaining to do.”
Alcor’s brows furrowed, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to put two and two together. Her lips pursed into a thin line clearly unhappy about the prospect that the newly anointed senshi was perhaps her twin. “Breana?” Her heart sank considerably when the girl with baby slate blue eyes looked up surprised; the same expression her sister often had when caught doing something she shouldn’t be doing.
“Fi???” the influx in her voice was almost cringe worthy; such was the case when the younger twin got excited. “Oh my God you’re a sushi too!?”
“Sushi?” Alcor looked at her sister as if she were an alien then down at the cat. “How did you get sushi? Ugh… never mind.” Clearly stressed, Alcor rubbed her temples for a few moments then powered down.
Eleonora’s attention then turned the the grey tabby. “That’s what you called me before right?”
Liryn looked at the blue-haired senshi “You’re welcome” he told her cheerfully. “Although there’s no thanks needed” because there wasn’t - at least not on his part - because he would have done the same for any senshi in need.
He padded over to brush against her legs briefly as he added “Please stay safe” before turning to pad back towards Eleonora, because now that the youma was gone he figured that explanations were probably in order.
He got about halfway, when the senshi behind him called out a name in a tone that sounded half like a query, the name one that Eleonora obviously seemed to recognise if the look of surprise was anything to go by.
He paused, turning to look from one to the other and was in time to catch the blue-haired senshi look down at him.
He found himself wondering if she was really as okay as she had claimed earlier as she rubbed at her forehead, although perhaps it was simply tiredness given that she chose that moment to power down, the warmth of her aura fading away
He turned back to Eleonora at her question and padded the last of way across to her “Actually I said senshi” he said, pronouncing the word as sen-shi. “Although the fish in sushi is pretty tasty” because he wasn’t much for the rest of it.
“I promised you an explanation” he continued, as he looked up at her. “Do you mind if I call someone whilst we talk?” Because whilst it wasn’t a sure bet that Athene was necessarily out and about on patrol, the dark-haired eternal senshi who was both teammate and friend could help him explain if he was. He looked over to include the blue-haired now civilian “Perhaps we can all talk.”
Because she could probably do with at least an explanation about what had happened.
“I’d appreciate that.” Fiona then turned her attention onto her sister “And before you ask,” Eleonora’s mouth snapped shut having been shut down before she could make her inquiry “Yes, I’m a senshi. I have been for almost a year now and no I don’t know anything; I can’t answer any of your questions... I don’t have any answers to offer to you because to be honest I didn’t have anyone I could ask nor did I really want to know.”
Fiona worried her lower lip for a moment then continued “I didn’t ask to be brought into this fight it was dropped in my lap and since New Years I’ve avoided powering up like the plague. Work, school, family, Fionan, and home; that’s my life, my choice.”
The pale haired young woman’s eyes fell to an arbitrary spot on the ground, hurt that her sister had kept a secret like this for so long. Absently she began combing her fingers through Liryn’s soft downy fur. “Maybe if we can get some answers you might change your mind?” Even with the knowledge her sister had just shared, Eleonora still managed to find a spot of hope in the bleakness of the situation.
“Maybe. Like I said, I’d appreciate hearing what he or she has to say. I’m not opposed to listening.” Following her sister's suit the Senshi of Heat powered down, back into her nice warm clothes; jeans, a thick sweater, and a fuzzy black scarf. Together they waited for the arrival of the little ones friend to come shed some light on what really is going on in Destiny City.
When Liryn had been thinking about explanation, he had been thinking more of answering any questions that Eleonora might have and perhaps letting the blue-haired woman know what had happened in the alleyway prior to them all meeting.
Although he wasn’t sure if the latter was really needed - after all she seemed to have already guessed what had happened.
There was a part of him that thought that perhaps she might be able to chip in whilst he and perhaps Athene (if they were okay with him calling him) answered Eleonora’s questions, especially after she admitted that she had been a senshi for almost a year.
However, the blue-haired woman’s next words were enough to have him quickly abandon that notion - because it seemed like she was as much in need of answers as Eleonora.
He looked from one to the other before saying simply “Thank you” and then pulled his communicator out of his subspace pocket.
Unlike when he had produced the henshin pen and the phone, there was no backflip and no subsequent clatter because whilst he could have done the whole backflip rigmarole, that would have involved getting up and he was quite happy remaining where he was given that Eleonora was petting him.
A jade green and bronze appeared in front of his paws and he activated it by voice and selected Athene’s name from contacts and dialed the dark-haired eternal.
As it happened Athene was out and patrolling and although his quiet voice sounded a little exasperated after Liryn gave him a brief rundown on both what had happened and his role in helping to get rid of the youma, he readily agreed to come and meet them after he gave him their location.
Which left a waiting game, although since Athene didn’t think that he was too far away from where they were and had eternal senshi speed on his side, it was one that would hopefully not be a long one.
And once Athene got there…?
Then hopefully at that point between the two of them they would be able to give the two women some answers.
litian
Backlogged to about two weeks ago. I was unable to get it posted before I left on vacation x_x
