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 Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2016 11:59 pm
Hugbell had took a night to rest from feeding the crystal energy to go see Caedus. He said he'd be where they first met in the large group so she was excited to see him and speak to him.
Hugbell hummed as she approached the spot where he'd been, she had a small picnic basket and a small box neatly wrapped. She made sure she had different sorts of food in the picnic basket including various fruits, some finger sandwiches and sweets! Along with water and some other drinks including two sodas and a handful of various juice boxes. She wasn't sure what Caedus would enjoy more.
She beamed when she finally saw his figure on the hill top, "Caedus are you busy~?" She asked in a sing-song voice as she stopped short, so as not to intrude on him any more than she had to if he didn't want any visitors. "I brought you stuff!" Obviously the teen was trying to respect him while letting him know she had presents, because presents usually gave someone some sway to at least talk for a bit.
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Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 8:06 pm
"I cannot say that I am busy," a voice called; Caedus had seemed like nothing more than a shadow in the distance but he rose, slow and weary, when he heard the girl call to him. He seemed to stretch; a strange sensation that made him look like his whole body was twitching, and then turned to face her. He tilted his head, recognizing her immediately. "You are the one with the strange little crystal. I had hope you would come." He may not have accepted her toy when she offered, but had been interested in it enough. Enough, even, that he ventured closer to her, and eyed what she had brought. "You did not need to bring me so much. But I do thank you. I have not seen such bright colors in a some time."
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Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 10:15 pm
Hugbell smiled as he said he wasn't busy. "Oh good, I was worried I'd be a bother."
She had watched him stretch and her brows knitted in concern. She couldn't tell if that looked painful or if that was natural for him. She chuckled and smiled, "Yes, I am." She placed it on Barnaby, "Good morning Barnaby~." She said to the stuffed bear as he also stretched blinking for a moment before looking at Caedus giving a small wave.
"Oh psh, I always bring a picnic lunch. There's bunches of food. I wasn't sure if you'd developed a taste for things you liked so I bought us a bit of everything. Plus I wasn't sure how hungry you were still."
She laughed a little bit, "Ah, yeah I am a little bit of a bright spot. Though I suppose that comes with being Sailor Hugbell, senshi of Comfort." She added segwaying that way into a way to introduce herself, "I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to properly introduce myself at our earlier meeting." The teen said as she sat Barnaby down handing him the box that held the ribbon with crystal in it she'd made the night before. "Can you give that to Caedus for me?"
The bear headed for the cloaked man while Hugbell looked around, "Does it matter where I set the blanket up?" She asked with a bright smile.
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 9:31 pm
Caedus did not seem to understand the small bear; when it waved to him, he offered a hesitant, confused wave back and then promptly looked to Hugbell. "I have a taste for all things. My hunger has not been sated. I fear it never will be." He watched as she interacted with the bear, absolutely entranced as it carried out her task. "You may set it up anywhere you like," he said, and though he initially took a step back from the bear, he finally seemed to muster whatever courage he needed to and stood still, waiting for it to reach him. He was significantly taller than the bear, so even did it a favor by carefully kneeling to be closer to him. The action did not seem easy for Caedus; his body was slow and seemed to not want to work with him. He took the box when it was offered, but was slow to open it. Twice, he glanced from the box in his hand to Hugbell and then back before finally he opened it. His eyes widened as he eyed the crystal and he reached out a hesitant hand as if to touch it. At the last second, he retracted it. "What is this?"
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 10:01 pm
"Oh well then, hopefully some of this will at least help." She said as she watched him kneel when she realized it was hard for him to stand up and sit down she pulled out the blanket and spread it out in front of him where he and Barnaby were, "There now you don't have to try to get up and move!"
She chuckled, she could tell he wasn't sure about the bear. "Don't worry he can't attack you." She promised, as she watched him take the box she was busy setting out the foods she had brought, peanut butter sandwiches, some had different jellies; cucumber sandwiches and ham and cheese sandwiches too. She also had a couple of fluffernutter sandwiches and then she pulled out carrots, celery with pimento cheese spread on them. Apple slices with caramel dip or peanut butter and then she had cuties, that had already been peeled and pulled apart. She sat out the sodas, juice boxes, some chocolate drinks, and bottles of water. Followed by plates and napkins. "Here we go!" She said with a smile, "If you can't reach something, you can ask Barnaby to get it for you." She added as she sat down.
She smiled when he asked what was in the box. "It's a crystal from my homeworld, I set it myself. I hope you like the red ribbon. I didn't know what colors you preferred."
She paused, "The crystals, set like that were suppose to be able to let stuffed animals become animated creatures like Barnaby here. Some were able to have more intelligence than others and from my memories a few were even able to talk. They were like children. However, the crystals allowed the animals to actively comfort children that visited Hugbell and help them when needed. Some even helped carry goods and transport them. I haven't been able to figure out how to get any of these crystals to work beyond the one that Barnaby has." She said with a soft frown.
"I think the only reason his works is because the person that kept the crystals before my homeworld fell, had made it for one of the Hugbells." She sighed as she picked up half of a ham and cheese, "I can't read any of the research or I might be able to make more headway in understanding how the crystals actually function."
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 1:15 pm
Caedus watched her for a moment, and then carefully joined her on the edge of the blanket. He was still holding the box and seemed more interested in it the crystal than the spread. He had barely even looked at it, though his stomach was audibly growling. "It is beautiful. You did a very good job setting it." He glanced to Barnaby for a second, but his eyes were immediately attracted to the crystal again. "What a miraculous ability. To animate something you created. I hope you learn more about these crystals. They seem fascinating. A rarity among crystals, I imagine." He seemed to want to speak more of it, but his body was betraying him. He glanced to the spread of food, hesitated, and then asked, "If you mean to share, I must ask what it is you do not mind parting with. I have a vast hunger."
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 7:16 pm
Hugbell blushed a little as Caedus spoke about she had done a good job setting it. "Thank you! It was my first successful attempt!" She said brightly as she nibbled on her sandwich.
She nodded, "It really is. I think it's part of the magic from Hugbell. My attacks, grow barnaby into a large stuffed animal where he can catch people when they fall. Obviously he can't stop them from being hurt but he can soften the blow if they've fallen from high enough up. I can also use him to heal."
She nodded, "I hope I can figure out about them, or eventually get help form someone that could translate at least the alphabet for me. From Hugbellion to present day English."
She paused and blinked owlishly when he asked what she didn't mind parting with it. "O-oh . . . well anything here. I brought it to share, so anything you want. I planned on leaving the rest for you after we finished, anyways." She smiled, "I have plenty at home. So, please take whatever you want. I don't usually eat more than a full sandwich and some apples or celery."
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Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2016 2:10 pm
Caedus nodded, extremely interested in everything she had to say about the matter. He seemed impressed, more so now with Barnaby, and the girl who sat before him.
But the call of food was too much, and he hesitantly set the crystal down in his lip. "I think my stomach may be larger than yours," he said, observing her spread. He glanced between her and Barnaby and then helped himself to the nearest thing; he lifted a Cutie to his mouth and ate it whole. He did not even seem to saver it, sans for the brief moment he closed his eyes and sighed.
Even as he ate, there was no clue as to what lay beneath his hood; he was very cautious and mindful to keep that concealed. Between bites, he said, "Does your bear think? Or speak? Or do you control him? …Do you remember much of your past life?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2016 9:59 pm
Hugbell tried not to giggle at the statement, "Well I suppose that's to be expected, I mean after all did you really get to eat where you were trapped?"
She was surprised he was as old as he was. She took another bite of her sandwich pausing as he ate the cutie whole. She was glad she peeled them, "Oh, um . . . just be careful eating things whole like that." She said after a few seconds, "There's somethings that . . . well I mean humans aren't suppose to eat. Seeds for example don't really digest well. I'm . . . not sure if you'd uh . . ." She faltered in her thoughts, "Anyways just be careful. I'd hate for you to get choked."
She was curious what the man, well she assumed Caedus was a man, lay behind the robes but she figured he'd eventually show them if he trusted them enough. She was glad though when he distracted her with questions. Barnaby was sitting bobbing his head like he had a song stuck in his head, "Aha, well yes of course he thinks. He's like a small child. I when I was awoken I was just a chibi senshi." She said as she smiled at Barnaby, "He can't talk. I don't think the Crystal he wears possesses that sort of magic. Either that or it's not strong enough. If I could figure out how to channel more magic into his crystal. . . but I . . . well I'd rather be careful about doing that because it is the only crystal I know that works. I need it to study."
She paused, "I don't control him. I ask him to do things, but he can act of his own accord if he wishes. I think he has a song stuck in his head right now." She beamed.
There was a pause when he asked about if she remembered much of her past life. "Bits and pieces. Largely I think my homeworld shows me what I need to know. It lead me on a scavenger hunt to find his ribbon, showing me bits and pieces of interactions between people that use to live there." She paused, "There was one stuffed animal that talked, it was a small mouse toy. He'd been named Fiddle." She paused, "He's the only one I clearly remember interacting with in memories. Those memories lead me to Barnaby's crystal ribbon. Though in the past they fought to keep me away from the crystals, I would pass out any time I got close to them . . . "
She paused her eyes had shifted up towards the sky, "A few months ago, well actually I think it's nearing a year ago now . . . I was up on my homeworld and I'd been jumped by a youma, it wasn't the same as from the negaverse I don't think. It'd been to Hugbell before, there were stories about it written in books as fables. It would come to try and devour the crystals that were there. Myself in the past and others had defeated it but it always returns. I'd ran into it then, last year. I'd been questioning how I'd gotten help from others when I wasn't able to bring them to my homeworld. But something you were talking about, you're homeworld being synthetic made me wonder, 'What if our homeworlds are actually living creatures?'" The teen paused and gave a small laugh, "I know it's probably a silly thought, but it would explain why my homeworld knew I needed help and couldn't fight the youma by myself . . ."
She paused, "After the battle and the youma had once again been banished, I realized I was near the crystal field, the same one I kept seeing myself faint before I could near it. . . "
She she looked towards Caedus and then at her arms, "That's when I gained these, the glowing markings? Those use to be actual ribbons on my arms. I was sitting near the crystals, like I was allowed to go to them and touch them, interact with them. As if I was now their only guardian and old enough to work with them. Though . . . I am their only guardian, the only one that can protect them from dangers now. There's . . . no one else left." She said pausing as she thought about that. How lonely would it be? To be the only person in the world? She chuckled slightly and used the back of her hand to rub at her eyes before, picking up a slice of apple since she'd finished her ham sandwich without realizing it. She smiled, "I'm sorry, I got a little carried away, I'm sure that's not something you care about."
There was a soft sadness in her voice as she spoke she was trying to move away from the thought, "What about your homeworld? I know you said it was synthetic, but is there anything interesting that you like to do there - that you remember?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 5:26 pm
"A chibi senshi?" he asked; he had already eaten another mandarin. "Congratulations. It is quite an accomplishment to pass those trials at such a young age." He was watching Barnaby, even more impressed that, while the bear did not speak, it seemed to have some degree of free will. "It is not so silly a thought to think that your homeworlds are alive. All planets are alive. Do not fool yourself into thinking I do not care about your feelings. I do not know you," he confessed, "But I am touched by your offering. You have burdened yourself on my behalf. I care for you, and all that you have to say." He had stopped eating to tell her that, but it was not for long; a moment later he had half a sandwich—and even that disappeared in only a few seconds. He did not seem to worry about whatever it was he ate, and his stomach wasn't protesting. Yet, at least. "It must be difficult to be the last of your planet. I am glad you have Earth, at least. Surrogate and imperfect as it may be. Better that you be here and can restore it from afar than be cursed to live alone. I hope you remember what it used to be. I hope you can restore it. My homeworld," he paused; his voice sounded as deep as ever, but the food seemed to sooth his threat. "Had many things to do. We mostly researched on it. We were very busy maintaining it and ensuring that it would remain functioning and safe for our people. It was designed for function, not fun. But perhaps we have mastered and corrected all that we needed to. We used to visit other worlds. Sometimes that was fun."
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Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 10:53 pm
Hugbell nodded softly as he asked that she was a chibi senshi, "I just became a full-fledged senshi last year. I was woken in 2010, so . . . it'll be six years this coming October." She said softly thinking about how long ago it'd really been since she was a normal girl doing normal things. Dreaming about Disney Princesses, and now she was a real-life super hero.
She smiled, "Thank you. I've seen a lot of bad things, and been through a lot. The older senshi didn't always approve of me being in this battle." She paused, "I try to help the chibis now when I see them. Show them they can make a difference even if they're small."
She nodded when he said that it wasn't a silly thought. "That's good to know though. I mean the planets being alive. It's a comforting thought."
She smiled as he said not to fool herself into thinking that he didn't care. Caedus was something, "I'm the senshi of comfort Caedus, it's my job."
She paused as he spoke about it being difficult, and that earth was imperfect. Though really, would she ask for anywhere else? "Honestly? I couldn't ask for a more perfect place to be." She said speaking on the idea of the earth being imperfect, "If it was perfect, you'd have no need for us, and we may not have ever met."
She nodded, "I'm working on it. I've got a lot to learn, the city is . . . well it's really creepy right now I'm trying to teach myself to sew so I can patch up the stuffed animals. Make them whole again. Right now it's like an amusement park. Rebuilding the buildings will take longer, as I am not a . . . carpenter, nor do I have experience with construction beyond building blocks and boxes. So restoring the homes and the school for the children that were there, will be difficult. I feel like it'll take more than I'm capable of."
She was listening as he spoke about his world. She snagged a fluffernut sandwich as he spoke. She smiled, "Well you'll always be welcomed on Hugbell if you ever wanted to visit. Maybe we could figure out a way when you manage to get back home to still communicate and you can see any progress I've made? Or at the very least you can see if you've been there before . . . "
There was still a curiousness though about him, "Did . . . you're planet have plants and wildlife? Sorry, I'm just really curious about what it looks like because it sounds interesting."
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 9:08 pm
"Do not mind what anyone tells you of what you are doing, regardless of age. Everyone starts somewhere. I was on diplomatic missions when I was very young, but," he shrugged and did not continue his story. "But I thank you for the invitation. I should like to learn more about your homeworld. I hope you can restore it. Perhaps you will find some friends who can help?" he suggested. He was still helping himself to what food he could reach; he was less shy now and seemed fully capable of eating large portions in only seconds. He scarfed them down—practically inhaled them—and showed no signs of stopping. "My planet," he said between bites, "Had no natural wildlife. We very rarely imported any creatures in. All plants were imported. We traded in seeds for a long time. But we had no need for lesser beings on my homeworld. They took resources we did not have. We have synthesized some plants to adapt to our needs, but we were almost certainly the only life forms. Except in very, very rare cases."
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 9:40 pm
Hugbell's eyes widened a little as he spoke about being on diplomatic missions when he was young, but he never finished she frowned a little but didn't press him.
She smiled, "I'm sure I can. It'll just take a little bit of work and some positive thoughts."
She was trying not to watch him eat, she didn't want to be rude but in truth she was very impressed with how fast he scarfed sandwiches down. She hoped he didn't gain too much weight because of them feeding him.
Though when he continued speaking about his planet she quirked her brow as he spoke and tilted her head a little before looking to Barnaby, his magic was likely about to wear off soon. Though that didn't stop her from thinking, "You sounds like you could've used some of the wildlife we had. Beyond imported, after a time those on my home world found that they preferred stuffed animals to do most of the work. They were safer than wild animals, though obviously we still had real animals I mean what else would we have eaten beyond animals and plants."
She smiled though, "It's nice to know that there are cases where you allowed other life forms." Hugbell seemed to sit and think, "So that must mean you all did everything though?"
She was looking at Barnaby again, "If . . . I could get the ribbons and crystals to work. Beyond the one I have for Barnaby. Would something like that be useful for your kind and you?" There was a pause, "In theory that is, They take nothing other than kindness and love. Barnaby doesn't have to eat or drink. So if, in theory I could make more, they also wouldn't need any extra resources . . . and they could transport materials, and they could be rode upon, not to mention they're companions. Like our animals here, we keep Cats and Dogs as pets, some people consider them like children."
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Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2016 11:12 pm
"Letting a synthetic creature do the work?" Caedus said; he pondered the idea for a moment and then nodded. "Though, I admit." He looked to Barnaby. "I cannot imagine such a thing as that doing the work we would use one. He looks too kind. But—yes. We did everything. And we build machines to help us. But we did not import laborers of any kind. Your creature…" His eyes were still on the bear. "…May have a difficult time surviving on my world. Kindness and love…are not things typically shown towards machines. And we would see him only as a tool. But we do not keep pets on my world. It is only us. Except," he clarified, "In rare situations. But they are few and far between. Not even worth mentioning. No, I think he would have a better place here on Earth. Humans seem…like they want to pamper and love. Especially things smaller than them. I respect that you are so compassionate towards creatures of that nature. But my kind are not like that. I would not know how to care for a pet. Is it not weird? To claim another creature's life as your own, knowing they cannot give their consent?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2016 11:44 pm
Hugbell paused as she listened to Caedus' thoughts, "There were other animals, larger than him for Hugbell that did work. Ones as small as Barnaby are more like companions."
She nodded as he continued to talk about machines and how they did the work if it wasn't done by his own people. "Machines are good though, your kin seem to be more advance than a lot of societies between Hugbell and here." She paused thinking, "My homeworld from what I could tell didn't have electricity. Anything done mechanically was very simple and basic with pullies and ropes. Or using gravity like I've noticed on my homeworld they managed to pipe water that was fed assumingly by air pressure and gravity."
She paused, "There's no compassion between you're kind? You don't comfort others when they feel bad?" She seemed concerned and confused on this concept. However, if they survived this long, perhaps there was something to that? She gave a small sad smile when he said they'd only think of Barnaby as a tool had they had him. The bear was walking over to her lap and yawned stretching a little.
He seemed tired, the magic was wearing off. Hugbell patted his head softly before taking the ribbon off and tying it on her wrist. "Humans do, at least we usually keep pets with well intentions. There are those that don't have quite as good of intentions." She paused, "Just because they can't give consent doesn't mean that they don't understand those who want to take care of them and help them. Usually, while we claim them, often times it's the creature that cannot give consent who actually adopt us. While they may not be able to speak, they still have emotions and feelings like we do. They know when someone means them harm and often they become protective of the person they like."
She smiled, "Besides here, if a creature can give consent, then we often don't want to keep those unless they're considered our partner, our girlfriend or boyfriend. Otherwise it's considered a form of slavery. Though, in earth's history there has often and continues to be those that are taken against their will and expected to do things they wouldn't do. Others are brainwashed into thinking what they're being told is right" She paused, "Our equals are put through it and so are our creatures until they're found out and stopped. There are more evils than just what fills the negaverse. They intend harm and ill will against those that cannot fight back against them."
She paused, "So in some ways the negaverse isn't always the cruelest mistress, though what they do and the brainwashing of their agents isn't acceptable; there could always be worse." she smiled, "Sometimes the different between right and wrong isn't black and white. However, if one intends to care for a creature and let it come and go as it pleases, we often call those pets. We give them warm shelter, food, pamper them, play with them. They're our friends and companions and they seem to consider us friends as long as we don't treat them badly and lose their trust."
She paused, "Humans are social creatures, we need companionship in the form of other creatures, doesn't matter if they're other humans or if they're animals. And while I cannot speak for all homeworlds, Hugbell was also that way, and most of those that came to visit seemed to be as well."
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