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 Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 11:44 am
The moon was bright, but half hidden behind a series of thick gray clouds that threatened rain if they stayed in the dark skies any longer. A cool breeze and the scent of spring flowers and crisp, clean air followed along, making the evening an altogether pleasant one; perfect for patrolling.
For the most part. Celsus wished he did not feel quite so terrible, but it was easier to handle the lethargy and the persistent feeling of unwell when he was out and about doing things, rather than staying put. And being powered up gave him a sense of purpose that he had yet to acquire as Fritz.
The cast on his arm was a new one now. No longer a violent, ridiculous shade of pink, it was smaller and thicker; a brace, rather than a hard plaster cast.
Your hand is healing well, was what the doctors had told him; and had followed it almost immediately by, But we don't know the extent to which you'll be able to use it just yet. The bones are mending, but they might cause significant discomfort and recurring pain due to the extensive damage to them.
He didn't want to think about that. Or the fact that he might never paint again.
So patrolling it was, because patrolling made him feel, for the first time in a long time, more comfortable in his skin than he had been before. It was still a bit different, but putting one foot in front of the other was better than no feet, after all.
The park, Celsus's favorite haunt, was deserted at this time of night, and he wandered through the trees, letting the breeze ruffle his cape and his hair as he walked.unoderi SORRY FOR THE LATE START OTL <3
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2016 5:17 pm
Come the first touch of spring, there was feeling of renewal. The want to change oneself, as the seasons change themselves, and grow for the better. Unfortunately, Shelley felt stunted. To be more precise, she felt her actions had not contributed to her duties as a knight. Yes, she fitfully wrote down everything, but to what means? Who would use her information other than herself? So many memo pads of her notes littered her room that just the sight of them drove her out. Powering up as Slievenamon, she jumped from her room's window to the rooftop adjacent to her home, and took a leisurely trip down to the park where she would practice her school-issued flute.
Nowadays, there was only flute that interested her: the larger instrument that played an even lovelier tune when she upgraded to a squire. She headed for the thicket of trees off the path and high into the canopies. The height carried her playing well, so after finding a good spot that overlooked the expanse of Destiny City, Slievenamon played a low, soothing melody that pulled forth the imagery of afternoon sun glistening on the crash and swell of waves; white froth and the salty tang of the sea. It was something short and sweet, but it brought peace of mind. Allowing a smile to tug at her lips, the squire sat her instrument to her side and leaned against the tree.
Unfortunately, without a hand on it, it rolled precariously from the branch and plummeted the ways to a grassy enclave at the base of the tree. Watching it fall, Slievenamon harrumphed when her enjoyable moment was cut short, and dropped from her seat to the ground to fetch it. Landing with the crunch of grass underfoot, she bent and scooped up her shell flute, and jumped a bit when she straightened and saw the flutter of a cape. Realizing she wasn't alone, Slievenamon jogged after them after confirming their energy signature wasn't hostile.
Her eyes blinked again when she registered it was a familiar face. "Ah, I know you!" Slievenamon suddenly cried out from beside a tree. Wincing a bit at her volume, she added in a softer tone, "You're one of those knights from the meeting, right? With the Code piece?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 21, 2016 12:01 pm
Autumn was by far the favored season for Celsus, but spring came a close second, with its multitude of flowers, bright, cheerful colors, and the consistent pleasant breezes that seemed to whistle throughout the city. He could have done without the rain - rain and glasses did not mix well, after all - but even that he didn't mind so much on a good day.
He thought, as he walked through the park, that he heard music.
The lovely, lilting tune was accompanied a second later by a power signature; not quite as strong as his own, but not as soft as a new recruit, lying somewhere in between, if he would have guessed it. Clean and pure, it had the distinct taste of a White Moon aura, not the thick, black, unpleasant clouds of Chaos.
The music came to a stop, and there was a soft thump. Something fell out of the trees a short distance away, followed by a rustling noise, and a second thump as a much larger something came out of the trees - a person, in a turquoise uniform that looked vaguely familiar.
Celsus watched, head tilted to the side, and then realized who she was, slowing his steps.
"Good evening," he said pleasantly, offering her a smile. "Yes, I was at the meeting - I remember you. you had a note pad, right? Forgive me, I can't recall names quite so well as I should wish to; my name is Celsus, of Chronos. You are...?"
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Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 3:25 pm
Whenever Slievenamon was in the presence of a knight, she felt small. Her energy signature had some impact to others, but not as much as a knight's, and while one did not overtly overpower the other, she felt like it did. So when Celsus came fully into view, the Neptune squire's eyes traced over his visage—especially his cape—with ardent wonder.
Ahh, knights are so cool! she internally squealed without losing her composure.
Much.
Her eyes seemed to glitter like afternoon sun on the waves of the ocean and awe tugged at the smile on her face. "E-evening! A-and yes, that was me! I just wanted to get everything down, ahaha..." She scratched at the skin behind her neck sheepishly. "Oh, and I'm Slievenamon of Neptune. It's nice to meet you, Celsus."
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Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 10:09 am
His gaze went across the uniform, now that he was close enough to see it more clearly, and something affectionate slid across Celsus's expression, his eyes softening as he took it all in. The turquoise and white and blues and greens were all very familiar to him now, and it made his heart clench a little with wonder and relief even now.
"Slievenamon of Neptune, a pleasure," he said, with a little bow in her direction. "I'm so glad to know another Neptune knight; you wear the same colors as my brother," he added, eyes crinkling with the smile on his face. "And taking notes is an admirable and thoughtful thing to do."
He ran his fingers over the sigil of Chronos around his neck, Celsus's expression relaxed as he looked at her.
"How are you faring, Slievenamon? You are...a squire, if I am correct in your power signature?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 2:43 pm
"Your brother?" Her interest was thus piqued upon learning of another fellow Neptune knight. Though she also mentally cursed herself for not having the chance to talk with him during the knight meeting. "Oh, I must meet him! It is always grand to know there are others Neptunians, heh. And really? You think so? It just became a habit, but sometimes..." She let out a wistful sigh. "It seems to be for naught."
Upon being asked of her well-being, Slievenamon rubbed at her chest and averted her gaze. "I've had... a few hiccups since accepting Chaos into me," she said. "But it was to be expected. How about you, Celsus? I hope... the Chaos isn't affecting you too much, right?" She dipped her head twice to affirm her rank. "Yes, I'm a squire. I haven't been one long, but the extra strength and, well, the ability to actually use magic is helpful, heh."
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Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2016 9:33 am
His smile could not have been more affectionate. "Yes," said Celsus, sounding utterly pleased to discuss such a person. "His name is Emrys, and he's very new to the knight world, but he's settling in and faring better than I would have thought, given the circumstances of his awakening."
He beamed at Slievenamon. "I would very much like to introduce the two of you, he could stand to meet another knight who shares his alliance. And don't worry, I don't believe it's for naught; you'll be better prepared than some of the others who have been there for longer."
Celsus's smile softened a little as he looked at her, a breeze ruffling through their hair. He could not say that he did not understand. "It was...not quite what any of us expected, I believe," he said, exhaling a breath. "It has been a bit of a struggle, I feel very lethargic a great deal of the time, but not all of that is because of the Chaos."
He did not want to think of the other reasons for his persistent, nagging illness. Celsus laughed a little.
"Magic is a wonderful, wondrous thing," he said, eyes twinkling behind his glasses. "What does your magic do?"
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Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 8:52 pm
The reassurance from the older knight made the squire smile. It was comforting on both parts to hear those remarks; one from the fact that there was yet another Neptune knight she could meet and that her magic. When the man's smile softened, her mouth opened slightly to question why his well-being wasn't just from Chaos, but the inquiry stilled on her tongue.
Another time, she reasoned. I came here to get my mind off note-taking, not to continue it.
Hefting up her shell flute, Slievenamon said, "I can play a melody that ups the grace of anyone I deem an ally." Her mouth drew to a small O. "What about you? I've never met a Chronos knight, so I know zero about them."
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Posted: Thu May 12, 2016 3:53 pm
Slievenamon was pleasant to be around, eager to learn. Celsus found her very amiable, and he felt himself relaxing as he spoke to her, the brightness in her eyes making him smile. He ran absent fingers across the necklace around his neck, the medallion of Chronos a familiar weight against his palm.
"That's lovely," he said with a little laugh. "Emrys' magic is also musical, but I'm afraid I don't remember what it is."
Celsus glanced around, then gestured at a nearby park bench.
"Shall we sit?" he suggested, smiling. "I'd be more than happy to tell you about Chronos; she's a princess, by the way, not a planet, and it's to her that I have pledged my life."
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Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 4:25 am
The prospect of learning about the Princess Chronos made the girl incredibly giddy. She tried to hold down her excitement with the same pleasant smile.
"Oh, I'd really love that!" she said, obliging him with the offer to sit by walking over to the park bench. When she slid into the seat, she added, "Do tell me anything you can about her! I've only seen royalty, so I know very little about them as people."
Of course, there were always follow-up questions that she had every intention of asking. For example, about her own princess and if she existed anywhere.
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Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 7:18 am
"She's beautiful," said Celsus, without hesitation, as he sat down beside Slievenamon, absently crossing one leg over the other. His hands rested on the edge of the bench seat, a look of pleasure on his somewhat pale face, Celsus clearly enjoying the discussion.
"She's very graceful, very elegant. She's Princess of the Zodiac, or at least, that's how I've known her. One of the kindest and loveliest women I've ever met."
It was clear from the tone of his voice that Celsus held Chronos in the highest regard. There was a slight flush to his cheeks, a voice of reverence and admiration, and he glanced sideways at the Neptune knight, his eyes crinkling a little at the corners as he smiled.
He possibly could have talked of Chronos for hours and not tired of it.
"She's the reason I fight - and my brother," Celsus added, with a little laugh. "But it was Chronos who found me and guided me, and I will always be loyal to her."
He jiggled one of his feet and said, "You said you've seen Royalty, who have you seen, out of curiosity?"
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Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 7:31 am
Slievenamon could only listen in wonderment, hiding the tinge of jealousy she felt. Oh, how she wished to share in the same mirth as Celsus talked of his own princess. She wanted to do the same, yet she hadn't the slightest idea how or what the princess of Neptune was like.
"Oh, she sounds absolutely wonderful!" the squire cried. "If she is such a lovely person, it is no wonder you fight for her. She certainly sounds like a great person to have pledged your loyalty to. And your brother as well, family is important to protect."
Come his next question, her mouth perked to a small O as she thought. She then said, "I believe his name is Castor? Prince Castor? I saw him during the meeting with Caedus. That's the only one I can recall now. I've yet to see any others... or my own princess, for that matter."
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Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 7:46 am
Beneath Slievenamon's praise of his princess, Celsus felt a surge of pleasure. Praise for Chronos felt like warmth against his skin, and he couldn't help but be happy that she was so delighted to hear of her. The Lady Chronos was meant to have all the wonder in the world, after all, in his opinion.
"Family is important," said Celsus in agreement, thinking of Rhys - and of Hitch, by extension, the corners of his lips quirking a little.
A slightly rueful laugh escaped him. "Ah, yes, Prince Castor," he said. "He's quite the man, though admittedly I don't know him that well at all. We've spoken rarely, but I know of him. There are a few other princesses as well that I have seen, but so far only one prince."
Celsus curled fingers around his Chronos charm again. "But enough about me," he said, grinning a little. "Tell me more of yourself. What do you think of the Knights so far?"
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 3:11 pm
"Really, more princesses?" This piqued the squire's interest and she drew a hand around her shell flute, tracing the symbol of Neptune upon it with her finger. "Do you know of them? A-and, if... If the princess of Neptune is among them?" Her eyes seemed to beg him for affirmation, but she glanced away before her intentions could be known. Slievenamon wanted dearly to know of Princess Neptune, but nothing gave her enough information. The books on her wonder had brief mentions, but no pictures—no face to with the name. It put her at a loss.
"A-ah, me? I absolutely love it thus far!" the girl cried, pressing her palms together and beaming at Celsus. "I was confused when I first started, like many others, but after putting in the time to learn, I can definitely say it is something I'm glad I pursued. It is frightening—Chaos and its agents, I mean. But that shadows in comparison to what Order has done for the Earth. And Neptune is an absolutely wonderful place. I've visited my wonder and I can say it is something I want to protect. It is too beautiful to be corrupted."
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2016 11:56 am
He hummed in thought. "I know Princess Ganymede, and Princess Polaris, though the latter I've only met once. The Lady Chronos, of course, and that's all I know. But I'm afraid I haven't seen Princess Neptune at all, or heard of any mention of her recently," said Celsus, with an apologetic tilt of his head. "I wish I could give you more, I'm sure Emrys would like more as well."
He was pleased to hear that she loved the knights; Slievenamon's personality and curiosity were endearing and infectious, and it was rare these days to find someone as dedicated and eager to learn as she was. Most seemed particularly jaded these days.
"I'm glad to hear that," said Celsus, with a full smile now. "Chaos can be a force to reckon with; they're very intense, and they're strong, and they're stubborn, but so are we, here in Order. We protect what we can, and do the best we can for the people of earth."
A laugh escaped him. "What's your Wonder like, if you don't mind me asking?"
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