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 Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 12:03 am
Back dating this. Quote: It had been a week since he had moved in with his little cousin and so far they were slowly learning about each other. Hux had been good so far and hadn’t rearranged anything in the house yet, key work yet, and neither had gotten on each other’s nerves enough to have a fight so far. At the moment they were walking around a nearby park as Alexandre had offered to show Hux around a bit and their walk had ended up there as they talked. “How much farther do you have credit wise in college before you are done?” He asked with a smile. The topic of school had come up a short bit ago. He wasn’t expecting the younger man to be close to finished yet but he was curious to see how well he was doing. He himself had pushed hard to make sure he graduated quickly but he wasn’t sure how fast the shorted man was going. Quote: The week spent together had so far been good, Katya was...somewhat displeased with him of course but he had dealt with it. He’d brushed aside Katya’s upset that she couldn’t eat at the table, talk, or read where and when she pleased. The cat was...well she’d shredded a shirt of his as well as damaged a pair of shoes, he’d since taken to closing his closet door so she couldn’t get in.
Before he and Hux, as his cousin liked to be called, had gone out he’d let Katya out in secret. He knew she would like the night out and perhaps would find someone of interest….she was always on the hunt for potential senshi, she wanted a small group of them just for herself - greedy little cat.
The walk through the park was to show Hux around, something he’d taken the time to do each night, as he wanted to get his older cousin familiar with the area. Looking over at the question he tilted his head a bit. “I don’t remember but I know I have a year or two left. I have considered changing my major as there is little to do with a degree in art. To what I don’t know though.” He didn’t want to be like either of his parents, that much he knew for certain.
He had, upon arriving at the park, told his cousin how dangerous it was. He’d been telling his cousin about the city and it’s many dangers, all whilst filtering just what he said. He didn’t want his cousin to get hurt, he was too much a big teddy bear really, and yet here they were in the park. The park where so many fights had happened in the past, where senshi, knights and officers could be found on any given night. And unknown to him, as he was just a civilian at the moment, they were being followed and it wasn’t just by Katya. She had been following them when she’d felt the youma and decided to follow even closer...just in case the youma decided to do anything stupid. Quote: The walks around the area had certainly helped Hux to get someone familiarized and he was grateful for them. That they were also a good way to get to know Alexandre was of course a big plus as well. “Have you made a list of different jobs you could do with the degree you are working for? It might help you to decide if you want to change it or not then to have a physical representation of your current options so you can actually see and think over if you are willing to pick one or not.” Hux suggested with a thoughtful look. “It would be a good place to start anyway.”
Earlier when they had just arrived Hux had taken in the warnings of his cousin but not fully understood them. Hearing of how dangerous the city could be and seeing it were two different things when it came to understanding and so far the taller man hadn’t seen anything out of the ordinary when it came to living in a city. The fact that one of the dangers that Alexandre was warning about was his own cousin and another was lurking nearby was something that never would have crossed his mind. Quote: “I can’t think of much with an art degree, teaching, museum, I can’t think of anything else to be honest. Maybe work at an art gallery or a place that auctions art.” Which was again - not much to pick from. He was limited in a rather sever way and he wasn’t fond of it. He’d started his degree because he wanted to do something he enjoyed, and he liked art and was good at it.
“I might talk to a guidance counselor, just to see if they know anything I don’t. But it’s summer vacation now and I’m taking time off. I’ll talk to them before the fall semester starts.” But not yet, he had a lot on his plate and he wasn’t even sure if he’d be returning for the fall semester, not likely with what he was signing himself up for with Romano’s.
He didn’t sense it and didn’t see it till it was upon them, or rather his cousin, a large youma that was rather beasty in form. It had knocked him to the ground in its rush for his cousin. He heard a familiar voice as well shouting - Katya. He wanted to call out for her and to warn her, to keep her from being seen by his cousin - he couldn’t have him knowing. But as he rolled over, rubbing the back of his head he turned his eyes onto his cousin. God damn it! This was like the last person he’d brought into the Negaverse but this was family...maybe he could swear Hux to secrecy? ******** class="clear"> Quote: “There could be more information on the internet you missed but yes, talking to a guidance counselor would probably be for the best.” Hux said with a nod after Alexandre explained. He wasn’t sure what other advice he could give at this point since he knew little of art degrees, having never looked into them. He had decided before he went into college to become a teacher since he had wanted to get a degree in literature and that was the most appealing job that would come with it. Of course once he had actually done some teaching, starting with just offering tutoring for some experience, he had found he enjoyed it.
However those types of thoughts disappeared quickly when a monster seemed to come out of nowhere. A yell escaped him for his cousin when he saw Alexandre get bowled over, worried that the smaller man had gotten hurt, but was soon having to focus on the monster since it’s attention seemed to be on him. He kept having to move to the side and back up to avoid getting caught by the attacks coming his way and he didn’t end up noticing right away that he was off the path and into the grass until he found himself with his back pressed against a tree. “s**t.” He said and prepared to dive to the side to avoid another charge. Before he could something caught his eye and he couldn’t help but give a confused look at why a metal bracelet was floating in front of him. Youma forgotten for the moment, Hux stared at the bracelet and started to reach for it as something in him told him to take hold of it. Quote: Watching his cousin, struggling to his feet, he pulled himself up and snarled at the youma. Stepping toward it with a certain confidence as he forced himself toward it. As he gained his footing he was able to make his way toward it easier, quicker. As he watched his cousin he spotted the item he seemed to be reaching for. “Oh no you don’t Hux!” He called out before looking to the cat he knew was there. “Katya! Move that item!” He called out, his hand moving in a cutting gesture toward the item on the ground. He was not about to have his cousin become a knight in front of him - no way in hell.
Snarling he threw himself between the youma and his cousin, pushing his cousin as far into the tree as he could and pushing the youma back. “You will back off.” As he spoke with an air of authority as the light summer clothing he wore changed into much heavier layers of dark clothing. His blond hair free of the hair holder he normally kept it in. Straightening his petite frame he started the youma down and pointed behind it. “Go - now.” The order was given coldly, he turned his head so he could look over his shoulder, wanting to make sure Katya had done as he’d asked. And there she was, several feet away from Hux and himself, with the item.
“Good. I won’t have my cousin some knight.” Now though...now he’d given himself away - again and this time it wasn’t to a near stranger but to his own family - ********! Quote: One moment he had been reaching for the bracelet and the next he found himself pressed against the tree more with his tiny cousin between him and the monster. Hux felt his heart leap into his throat for a moment and was going to grab Alexandre and try to launch them to the side, the item already forgotten, but then his cousin changed. And managed to command the monster to leave. He looked from the retreating youma to his differently clothed cousin to the familiar cat that was guarding the item that still tugged at him to touch, then finally back to Alexandre. “What in the hell just happened?” And what was a Knight that he would apparently become? Quote: “That is what i warned you about...part of it anyway.” He said calmly, turning around in a whirl of fabric, to face his cousin. He looked like some prim and proper lord or something similar, his uniform was layers of dark fabric and decoration and over the top pomp. It fit him in a way - it really did.
“That item it not something I can let you have...it would divide us...put us on opposite sides of a war.” Kneeling on the ground in front of his cousin his dark eyes shifted to Katya. “Thank you Katya.” Nodding his head once he wasn’t bothered at all when the cat spoke again, giving a short ‘You're welcome’ to him.
“I suppose the best would be to bring you into the war on my side...but I could swear you to secrecy….but I still dislike that idea...but I’m not fond of bringing family into this.” This was something which was his - his war - his fight. It was something which he carried on his shoulders and had never thought to place upon a family member's shoulders as well. He wanted to keep them safe, and away from the war. Quote: “I think you are going to have to explain more then Tink.” Hux said as he studied the shorter man. His thoughts were scattered every which way about what just happened. Part of him was stuck on the monster, part of him was puzzling over Alexandre’s attire (“Doesn’t he get hot in that…?”) and how he was able to command the monster, part was trying to take in the fact that Katya talked. But the larger part of him was still stuck on the item and his eyes kept shifting over to it and his hands kept flexing like he wanted to grasp it.
“What do you mean it would put us on different sides of a war? I think you skipped a few details there.” He frowned and moved away from the tree a step, not consciously making the decision to step closer to the bracelet but still doing so. “Just what have you got yourself mixed in?” Quote: “This is hardly the place to explain things, it’s far too much and far too tedious. The longer I stay here, like this, the more at risk I am. “I’m a beacon of power to the other side and no doubt a few would like to try and make a name for themself by taking on a General, or killing me if they can.” Not that he would be easy to kill, he was rather capable by now. “That item there.” He said nodding toward Katya and the item she was keeping from his cousin.
“It will turn you into the opposite of me. The light to my dark...it will put us on opposite sides of a war by making you a knight.” He hadn’t seen what symbol was on it so couldn’t be sure to which planet his cousin was meant for but he wasn’t going to allow him to take it - so it didn’t matter.
“Katya.” he said watching his cousin, ready to pounce if need be. He watched as the russian blue got the idea, without him needing to say anything, and picked up the item in her mouth and took off to hide in a bush.
“I can’t have you as a knight...I won’t fight my own cousin...and I would have to.” Quote: “So we will just have to go home so you can explain it.” Hux said with a shake of his head. “Then shouldn’t you change back?” He asked, unsure if that was what would happen so his cousin would stop being a beacon. How did his younger cousin become a General anyway? Did this war have actual armies on their sides? So many questions and he would prefer to have the answers now. “Wait why are you fighting on the ‘dark side’ anyway if that was the case?” He narrowed his blue eyes and frowned.
His eyes snapped over to the cat when she left with the bracelet and he took another step toward the direction she had gone only to pause as the item suddenly appeared in front of him once again. This time the pull seemed to be greater and his hand was moving before he fully registered it, nor the words that Alexandre had just said. Everything seemed to melt away and his vision tunneled on the gleaming item. Quote: “The supposed light side is far from light. Simply a title.” he stated before powering down. “We will go home and talk...but never grab that item.” He couldn’t let his cousin become a knight - there was no way. But how to keep him from it the next time it cropped up? If he, or Katya, weren’t around what was there to stop his cousin? Now that he looked like a normal civilian again he stood up and dusted himself off before offering his cousin a hand. “Katya, go on ahead of us home.” He knew she could hear him, she was a cat after all, and it would be good if she headed home as well.
She would go but before he and Hux could the item was back in front of them and his cousin was going for it - again! Without thinking he powered up once more and slammed into his cousin. Using the strength he had when powered up against his larger cousin to take them both to the ground. “No you don’t Hux. Don’t make me bring you into this war...don’t make me do it here.” He whispered harshly. It seemed like he would have to though - god damn it Hudson. Quote: “Who gave the titles then?” Hux asked, wondering if it meant that someone had just gotten pompous and assigned sides as light or dark, but then that didn’t make sense seeing how the ‘dark side’ apparently was fine with their title. He didn’t bother answering Alexandre about not grabbing the item seeing how he was currently trying to do just that. It called to him, something in him yearned for it. He couldn’t just not grab it when it was right there.
Of course it helped when his cousin sent them to the ground before he could grasp it. Hux let out a grunt at the force behind the tackle and looked at the smaller man before he was once again enraptured by the item that had seemed to taunt the General by floating closer to where they were laying, once again in Hux’s reach. “But it’s mine.” He said without thought as he stared at it. Quote: He was not going to be answering his cousins questions, at least not yet, till the issue of the haunting item was dealt with. It seemed that item was like catnip to a cat, or a flame to a moth, and he was not about to let his cousin divide their family by grabbing for it and becoming a knight. He was going to have to apologize, a lot, and explain everything later...but he had no choice in the matter either - not with how things were going. That item was being persistent, as if it posessed a mind of it’s own; he wouldn’t be shocked if it did possess one.
“Hudson...don’t kill me for this but I honestly don’t care if you want that item - I’m not allowing you to have it.” He was back to giving orders, that commanding tone entering his voice. “I cannot permit it.” He had no choice. Where he had thought maybe just swearing his older cousin to secrecy would work he now knew it wouldn’t, there was no way it would. He had no choice...and damn it he didn’t want to do this.
As he brought his gloved hand to his cousin's chest he stared down at him, even as he was staring at that damned item. Snarling he pressed his hand into his cousin's chest, keeping his temper in check so he wasn’t rough and cause his cousin unnecessary pain. It would hurt enough anyway, he didn’t need to make it worse.
As his hand grasped his cousins starseed he focused on the task at hand. He’d done it before, not even that long ago, he knew how to do it and the flow of energy which left him and passed into his cousin - into his starseed. It was an amazing feeling but he knew it would bring his cousin pain, he’d felt it himself so long ago. Quote: Hux’s eyes darted over to Alexandre briefly as he talked but was quick to slide away back to the floating item. The words that the General were saying was going in one ear and out the other at this point. While somewhere inside of him he didn’t want to take the bracelet as his cousin asked, it was vastly overshadowed by the need to grab it. He freed a hand from under their bodies and went to grab at the item again but his hand stopped halfway to it as the feeling of Alexandre’s hand going into his chest registered, breaking the distraction of the item for now.
“What are you-?” He looked back to his cousin with wide eyes as he spoke but cut off as the General started to feed the chaos energy into his starseed. Hux gave a choked off cry and the hand that had been reaching for the item moved to grasp Alexandre’s arm instead. The pain building in his very soul had him trying to pull and push the younger man off and a scream got caught on the back of his throat as the corrupting energy started to sink in and then couldn’t be held back as it took hold. Quote: He wanted to pull away, knowing he was hurting his cousin, but he didn’t and he pressed on. He forced the energy into his cousins starseed while he squeezed his eyes closed. Moving, shifting, till he had his forehead pressed to his cousin's chest, just above where his hand pierced the others body. His slender form bowed over his cousins larger frame.
“I’m sorry...but I can’t let you….we’re family.” He whispered against the others chest, knowing the words would be drown out by his cousins screams. He hoped no one came and stopped them, to try and do this again...to finish it...he wasn’t sure he could. Biting down on his bottom lip he waited till he could feel the others shift and power up, till he knew he had done his job and made an officer of his own cousin - something he swore he’d never do.
“I’m sorry Hudson…” He whispered again. Quote: The grip that Hux had on Alexandre’s arm tightened as the energy flowed into him but thankfully for them both it didn’t take long for the older man to give one last scream then power up into a Lieutenant. The new officer went limp in a daze for the moment as his uniform appeared on him and the weapon that have been meant to turn him into a Knight shattered to reform as a glove on the very hand that had been reaching for it in the first place. Hux, now Lieutenant Cuprite, couldn’t bring himself to move and just laid there for now panting and staring up above them both at the sky. If there were tears that had escaped during the corruption then he didn’t acknowledge them. Quote: When his hand pulled out of the others chest he lay there on top of the other shivering, or shaking, it was hard to tell as he held onto the other with his arms and pressed his face into the others broad chest. “You need to power down...think of what you’d been wearing...of being normal…” He whispered as he turned his face so his cousin's chest didn’t muffle his words. Biting down on his bottom lip. He remained powered up, a massive amount of chaotic power resting on top of the other, likely suffocating the new senses his cousin had. Quote: It took a moment for the words to sink in but when they did the new Lieutenant gave a groan and forced himself to focus. A minute later he was back in his civilian clothes and the world was back to being muted of his cousins power, something he hadn’t realized as there until it no longer was. Even then, without knowing that he could sense power he didn’t know if was Alexandre. “I think...” He started then had to clear his throat. “I think I’m going to need those answers now.” Quote: “Home first...you should lay down...I know how that feels - being given that power. I’ve been through it three times.” He whispered as he held tightly to his cousin, careful not to crush him, he was stronger than he should be given his size and he knew it. His cousin would be now too...and he’d get even stronger. “Hold on...this won’t feel good but it’s faster.” Teleporting was nice and fast, efficient, and that’s what he did now. The park vanishing and a split second later the living room had replaced it and he was powering down.
Sitting up slowly he wiped at his moist eyes as he look down at his cousin. “I didn’t want to...I apologize Hux…” And he did, the guilt he felt and how apologetic he felt - it was honest and powerful as he sat back, slipping off his cousin so he sat on the floor between the others legs, and made to hug himself.
“I couldn’t let you take that item though.” Quote: His heart went out to his cousin for having to go through that type of pain three times even though he was still reeling from that same pain caused by his cousin. He was however more grateful for the warning and for the fact that he was still laying down when they teleported back to the house as the change of location made the headache that was growing worse. “How did you just… guess that will be one of the things you will be covering.” Hux said and raised a hand to rub at his temple when Alexandre sat up.
The apologies did help, at least somewhat, but he still had a spark of ‘why?’ floating around his head even if it was dimming with each look to his guilty cousin. He gave a sigh and shifted up a bit so he was being propped up on his elbows to study Alexandre. Even though the many layers had disappeared back into his normal clothes, he still seemed so small with the way he was huddled. The picture was enough to have Hux push up the rest of the way into a sitting position and wrap his arms around the smaller man. Quote: “Teleporting is a skill I’ve gained...you’ll be able to once you become a Captain. For now...your a Lieutenant.” He whispered as his cousin held him. “I’ll teach you...when the time comes. I’ll keep you safe in this war.” He would kill anyone who tried to harm his cousin. His cousin was now part of this and in the last week they had...gotten closer than they had ever been. Even before this week he still would have killed to keep his cousin safe.
“You should sit down. I’ll get drinks and I’ll explain things. It’s a long story - ancient and modern. Just don’t think I’m insane.” He said and smiled when he heard something moving about in the kitchen. “Katya?” He called out and was rewarded with her speaking up, confirming she was home. “Sit with Hux and I’ll bring you something as well.” He called out as he stood and removing his shirt, showing off the ink and scars he bore, he headed for the kitchen. Small as he was he was toned nicely, time spent fighting, running, working out...all to keep alive.
“What do you want to drink Hux?” Quote: The fact that he was apparently drafted and was now a Lieutenant just like that was tucked away to think on during the real explanation that Alex offered. Instead he just nodded his head when his cousin said that he would be keeping him safe and teach him. He was glad that he wasn’t just going to be tossed into the deep end without anything more then an explanation but he kept wondering just what all he would be in danger by that Alex would have to promise that.
Hux stood after his cousin moved away and moved over to a nearby chair, swaying just a bit from the surprise of all this as well as the crashing adrenaline that had shot up earlier thanks to bother the attack and the corruption. Once he was sitting down he ran a hand through his hair and took in the fact that yes, he had not been hallucinating earlier and Katya did indeed talk. “Something with a kick in it? No preference beyond that.” He answered back when asked about a drink. Quote: Laughing he went into the kitchen to grab a bottle, he did keep alcohol in the house though he didn’t drink, and grabbing a bottle, a glass, he got something for himself and then a drink for Katya. Returning with it all on a tray he set it down on top of the glass topped coffee table.
“Help yourself.” He had brought out a bottle of whiskey for his cousin, he didn’t know what he prefered. For himself - juice and for Katya he had gone with a lightly flavored water. The bowl was set on the table, off the tray, so she could jump up and drink.
“I suppose I should start with the past - where this war all started. A thousand years ago.” And from there he went to explain about the prince of earth and the moon’s princess, their love, and the romeo and juliet way it all went. He ended with the Queen of the Moon and her attack on Earth, that she had wanted to enslave them all. That she had planned to do so through her daughter. He ended with what created the youma, as far as he’d been told at the time.
Sitting back, finishing his glass of juice, his slate eyes on his cousin from where he sat on the carpeted floor. He waited to see how he would respond.
“You , me...in the past we either had been a knight...or we are descended from a knight. A knight served a senshi and that planet. Once corrupted, as we are, we become officers of the Negaverse…”
“Beryl, the Prince’s true fiance...she did rule the Negaverse, only one thing more powerful than her. She was killed by that thing...we still serve the Negaverse and chaos and fight the senshi and knights…A new generation for a new war.” Quote: Hux nodded his thanks when Alex brought the drinks out and poured himself some of the whiskey. He sipped the drink as he listened to the story of the past and the present, only interrupting here and there with a few questions. “So if we were once Knights and if I had grabbed the item I would have become a Knight, I’m curious why you fight for the Negaverse. Setting the past aside, what is your personal reason for it.” He asked when it seemed that his cousin was winding down. He felt compassion for the Prince and Princess but also for Beryl who had been scorned, easily seeing that no side had really been in the right and that both had been wronged. But still he had gotten to know Alexandre this past week and if he thought that the Negaverse was in the right, even if it was in the right here in this age, then he must have a good reason. Quote: “Yes, you would have become a knight.” And thus on the opposite side as himself. It was a simple statement, it was the truth. His cousin would have become a knight. He hadn’t had the option, hadn’t seen an item. He’d agreed to join when confronted with the choice.
“I joined, at first, for myself. I didn’t want to trust my freedom to someone else, someone who may fail and cost me it.” He was at least honest, he’d never been able to lie. He was in it originally all for himself, how fast that had changed though. “I thought everyone should fight for themself. That changed, rather quickly, into fighting for myself and those who could not fight for themself - the elderly, too young, disabled. It spread to everyone not involved then, and myself.” Himself almost second, considering how he threw himself into things and the injuries he took, the risks he made.
“If we were all reborn, or descended from past knights, than what is to say the Moon’s Queen or Princess, perhaps both, have not been reborn as well - that they’ve awakened and are laying in wait. Even if they haven’t awakened - they can if they were reborn. I don’t want the past to repeat itself.” Setting his empty glass down he smiled as he took note of Katya who was moving to his cousin and settling in his lap.
“Katya is a Mauvian...she can’t, but eventually will, be able to take on a human like form. She is a guardian cat. Some work for order and some for us. Their main job is awakening, training, and teaching senshi. The ones who work for order...have awakened pre-teens...children that have no business in a war where people die. I’ve seen some as young as ten, possibly younger. Even if the past was not as I’ve been told that alone is a crime - pulling children into a war...no one stops them from big battles. I’ve seen them amidst the carnage.” The felt strongly about it, it was obvious to tell, and he was sure his teddy bear for a cousin would not like that bit of information. Quote: It made sense that Alex’s priorities would change, given that it seemed that he had been apart of this war long enough to become a General. It also made sense that the past could repeat if people were being reborn yet it could also mean that those same people could use the lessons of the past to change the future. Not all tales were black and white while not all dark was evil nor light was good. He still wasn’t sure just who he personally thought were ‘good’ in the present but was willing to follow his little cousins lead in this.
Hux gave a smile and started to pet the guardian cat once she was on his lap, careful not to mess up her clothes or fur. His smile dropped and turned into a deep frown when he heard that those of the ‘light’ brought adolescents into a war. Bad enough that teens were brought in but little children too? “How in the world could they justify doing that?” He asked, voice and eyes holding a trace of anger in them. It was hard to tick him off but these were little kids! Quote: “I don’t know. I tried to get one into a trash can to prevent them from trying to fight me. They threw rocks at me in return. They are, at least some of them, prepared to fight...to go into large battles. We use weapons, senshi and knights wield magic. They go against people with swords, or like me a spear. I’ve never seen a senshi, or a knight, pull one of the little ones back.” He could only assume they didn’t care, or just thought to let them do as they pleased, perhaps too busy to care or notice the bitty senshi running about?
“We don’t take in children - never have and never will. I would never allow one to fight in this war. Between that and the fact the past could repeat itself..my choice was made, I’ve stayed in the Negaverse even though I could change sides - I could become a knight.” He had the ability to choose that, he knew who to go to. He could easily arrange it, he wouldn’t though - ever.
“While people can change, while none of us are the same, senshi and knights don’t remember all of the past. They can make the same mistakes, cause the same problems...and the past, the memories they do have, can influence them I’m sure.” He said pouring himself another drink. He didn’t know his cousin was thinking about similar things, it was just something which came pouring out of him. Pouring his drink he took another sip.
“I was worried about you moving in due to this...I’ve had officers sleep here, move in, when they needed it. I didn’t plan to bring you into it, I worried about both worlds colliding - I still do with Aiden.” Aiden was clueless, an innocent at his side. “I’ll train you, I’m not going to let you out without me either. I’m not going to have you getting hurt.” Like he’d been. The scars now made sense, likely. “We’ll start on things soon...but now you have your in at Romano’s...it’s owned by us, a General King. It’s being used to recruit possible candidates. All the staff are officers.” Quote: The mental image of his tiny cousin trying to stuff a tiny child into a trashcan to get them to stop fighting brought the smile back for a heartbeat but it was gone at the thought that Alex shouldn’t have had to try in the first place. “I’m surprised that they don’t seem to care then.” He paused for a moment before asking another question. “While you say the Negaverse doesn’t take children and you clearly try not to fight them, is there some rule set in place, anything at all to keep others of the Negaverse from hurting them?”
He gave a thoughtful nod as his cousin unknowingly addressed his thoughts. If they couldn’t truly remember and only got some of the pieces it wouldn’t help them in the long run. “If they get some memories, do we get any? What helps us from making those same mistakes, possibly in reverse?” He asked before he finished off the whiskey in his glass. “Thank you for trying to keep me out of it then, even if it’s clear it didn’t work.” He ran his hand through his hair again then gave a small smile to Alex. “And thank you for the offered help.” Yes the scars made a lot more sense now, as well as the slight limp that Alex had when he first got here, and later he would ask just how his cousin got them as well as do his best to prevent more from happening. The mention of Romano’s have him blinking in surprise, work having been the farthest thing from his mind right now. Quote: “No, there are no rules. It is simply based on morals and most I do not believe would hurt, much less kill, one of the little ones. However some of them, the little ones, may by following the older senshi and knights put themselves in a bad spot where they may get injured or killed on purpose - an officer's life vs. theirs. The senshi and knights have, in the past, kidnapped and tortured our officers. We’ve done the same but if memory, and what I’ve heard, serve me right...they did it first. If any of those little ones were involved, or there, they were at risk and then - and only then...could I understand it.” it would be a life and death thing, a child who would torture a person...were they even able to be saved? To be redeemed? Or were they too broken by then...or after it?
“This is...a war, just like the military fights but with enemies you can’t see till night - till they come out. With child soldiers...and a cityscape as the playing field. Throw in weapons and magic...it’s chaotic….” The nightmares, the guilt, the abuse mentally, physically and emotionally. Trying to keep people safe, away from it all and clueless. To separate two lives as much as possible - none of it was easy. For little children how impossible was it? How much harder? When did they break?
“No...I’ve only had one flash once and I don’t know of anyone else who’s ever had even that. So no - we get nothing. We just know the other side is our enemy and if the Moon’s Queen or Princess ever turn up - we remove them. We do our best.” He said shrugging as he stood slowly and moved to seat himself by his cousin.
“This was a war I entered of my own free will. I was told about it before accepting, not everything mind you, but enough to make my choice. I don’t care for dragging people into it...and yet I seem to do it often. I have several Lieutenants and a Captain under me...a corrupted senshi, maybe two. People to teach and train - to look out for and help.” And he would, he wanted to.
“I’m going to be working at Romano’s this summer. I’m taking the next semester or two off of college to work there. It won’t be on campus...I’ll be teaching art.” And that wasn’t a normal subject - a core one. “It’s how I said you’d get in...I would have tried to help and pull a string or two if possible. Now though...it’ll be impossible for you to not be accepted to teach there.” Quote: No rules and only morals to guide left those children very vulnerable, made worse if they were throwing themselves into tight spots as Alex said. He knew that for himself he couldn’t bring himself to hurt any, probably not even in a life or death situation, so in the end he would have to do his best to avoid them. The kidnapping and torture on both sides part wasn’t terribly surprising, though he wished it hadn’t happened for anyone. Just how far will this war take people until it is finished?
“So in the end we can just make the same mistakes over again and just not know it verses them who might.” Hux said, not really asking. “And it comes down to just hoping for the best just like everyday life.” He was curious about the other’s under his cousin but he imagined he would probably end up meeting them later so he didn’t ask more about them for now.
When Alex mentioned that he would be teaching art, Hux gave him a smile. “Guess you will get to see if you want to go for the teacher route of your degree after all.” The fact that his cousin was willing to try and pull strings to get him into a job made him both happy that he was willing to help and also unsure what that would have meant for his teaching ability. Quote: “Yes, or because we are not knights we may not make the same mistakes at all. We are not obligated to follow some planet and it’s senshi...or anything else like that - as some of us once were. But we are...flying blind in that sense. As for the other side...we don’t know they learn or don’t, it’s likely different for each of them.” Shrugging he sighed. It was a lot of in the dark fighting, in the sense both sides lacked in knowledge.
“Indeed, but bloodier than everyday life...and a fair bit more dangerous. I’ve seen..and done...and suffered many odd things.” He said thinking back on the things which had happened over the years. It was...insane.
“Remember that Thanksgiving when I was...sixteen. The first one I ever missed?” He hadn’t missed one since either. “I had been, along with others from all sides, turned into a cat...and was stuck for nearly two weeks.” he said shaking his head. “I’ve been in space...more than once...I can tell you the star Polaris is snow covered and freezing cold.”
“Yes, it’s a way to test the waters. They are forging the paperwork I need so I can teach there. Since I’m going for the degree anyway it’s not too bad, I’m not clueless on the subject. It’s what’ll get me in and as a General it’s good to have me there.” It made sense to have high ranking officers involved in the school and recruiting. Quote: When the Thanksgiving was brought up Hux gave a nod only to frown again when Alex continued to explain why he missed it. His little cousin had been part of this war since he was at least sixteen? It was hard to think about, hard to think about just what he might have experienced through the years, both good and bad. “How did you end up going into space?” He asked, wondering if it meant that the other man could use his teleportation ability into space or if it happened some other way.
“I see. Where are you going to teach the classes since you said it wouldn’t be on campus?” He could remember the information of the school had mentioned that non core classes could be held off campus but the places would have to be provided for by the teachers. It had made him start to think of a different kind of class he wouldn’t mind teaching as well as literature, though he wasn’t sure if he would try.
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Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 12:04 am
Quote: “That monster, from tonight, it’s small compared to some. It’s called a youma.” Which he’d mentioned during his storytelling before. “There are great youma - powerful...I don’t know anyone who could control one, aside from chaos itself - Metalia. There was one...broken into pieces. We had to gather the pieces and put it back together. I won one of the pieces in a contest, I gained a snippet of memory from the youma. We rode it into space with the help of a corrupted senshi and a mirror up on her planet.” He didn’t explain what sort of contest, he had been...maybe seventeen and drinking till he was beyond drunk. How to tell his cousin that?
“The second time I met with a senshi - a princess. She took me to Polaris itself. I had been tasked to make friends on the other side, to gain information. She was one I made friends with. I also went to a wonder, with a knight, by accident. It was up on Mercury.” So he’d been to a few places, seen more than most people ever had or ever would. “The corrupted senshi...her planet, or star, is Alkaid - we all wound up there after the battle we had in space.” Which he still wasn’t sure if anyone had won.
“I’m going to teach the art classes, at least some of them, even if they are off campus. All off campus classes will also be taught by officers. I’ll be renting out a studio to use, something the negaverse will be covering. I want to help and it’s the one way I can.” Quote: “Why did you put it back together and why ride it into space?” Hux asked, a chill going up his spine at how many times Alexandre had gone into life threatening situations and he was sure he hadn’t even heard the tip of the iceberg. What would have happened if Alex had died during one of the times? Would there be some way to let the family know? Did the Negaverse have a policy for that? He shook his head a bit to try and shove those thoughts away. They were not something he wanted to dwell on right now.
“There is royalty involved in this war?” He tried to remember if his cousin had mentioned that before and if he had just blanked on it. It wouldn’t be a surprise to him if that was the case seeing how much of a shock everything was. The taller man kept his hands away from his chest when he had the urge to press against it at the remembered pain, not wanting Alex to feel even worse, then gladly kept up with the subject of classes to help distract himself. “Sounds like you will be having fun then.” Quote: “To handle the senshi there...a lot of civilians went missing - they were up there with the senshi and knights. The people all died in the end...but they came back - somehow They somehow also made it back home, we got ejected from the Surrounding before they returned.” And so he had no idea how they’d gotten back to Earth, he was curious though. He wondered, for the first time ever, if Remarque had a clue or how he’d returned. Hmm….maybe it was something worth asking the other at a later date.
“Yes...senshi have royalty, very annoying and very powerful - they hurt.” He said, shuddering once as the memories of taking on royals. He wasn’t sure which he disliked more, Polaris, she threw a car at him, Castor with his hail or Ganymede with that inside blood burning and boiling pain. It wasn’t just looking at how he’d suffered from each but the potential they each had.
“Knights have their own version of royalty, I’ve met one, and the Negaverse does as well. They all just boast different titles.” As the topic changed he bobbed his head. “Perhaps, I’ve never done the teaching thing. I don’t know how it will go, especially as art is not a serious subject and is very opinion based.” What was art, what wasn’t, what did something mean...all opinion really. It was what he loved and yet what he disliked about it, at least right now when it came to teaching it. Quote: He supposed that he shouldn’t be surprised that somehow the civilians that Alex was talking about came back to life somehow, what with them fighting in a war with people who were reincarnates from aliens. Still all of this was sounding like it came straight out of a novel, and he was thankful that he already had proof that it was real so he wouldn’t have to worry about his cousins mental health. At least when it came to this topic, who knows what the war was doing to his psyche. “Royalty on every side, got it.” Hux eyed how his cousin shuddered and decided not to ask for more information on said royalty at the moment.
“I’m sure you will be a good teacher.” He said with a smile and a shrug. “Just keep in mind that people learn in different ways, be both lenient and strict, and try to make sure to have fun with it.” Quote: “Yes, and the other side is...very disorganized. Their royals seem to hold no sway or power over the flock.” An eye roll here, it was why the Negaverse was doing so well. The other side had no organization, no ranks. They didn’t have leaders, or well...they did but that was in title alone. They had no leaders that they followed.
“The Negaverse has strict ranks and you follow those higher up. Some may have lesser rank but more experience, you go to them for help, knowledge, and you take their lead if someone of higher rank isn’t around. But we work as a team.” Which was something the other side didn’t do, never had as far as he knew.
“I’ll try to...I’ve learned some of that through this war...though I admit I climbed the ranks fast so I didn’t spend time at the bottom of the ladder learning for long.” No, here people climbed quickly, it was a need really. “We can at least have lunch together at the main campus.” Quote: Hux nodded though he wondered how the Order side lasted this long if they didn’t actually have any ‘order’. It almost sounded backwards to him with the Order being chaotic and the Chaos being orderly. “Sounds like a mess to deal with.” He said in reference to them. “What about those higher in rank that don’t actually know what they are doing or how to lead? Does that still happen like in normal militaries? Or, rather what I’ve heard what can happen in normal militaries anyway.”
“If you need any help or tips to teaching then feel free to ask.” He said with a smile. “Lunch sounds good, it would be easier to swap notes, tips, and comparisons then.” Of course that was provided he got hired. Not that he didn’t believe Alex when he said that he now had an in thanks to being a Lieutenant, he just was keeping in mind that other officers would be applying as well so any position he would be applying for could be filled already. He would just have to wait and see. Quote: “It does, but I’ve yet to really see it. Promotions are given to those deserving and ready for it. No one unable to really lead, not when it counted, would be promoted. So even those who seem like they are not leaders...when it comes down to it - they are.” He said thinking back on the Generals he knew, some up front didn’t seem the sort...but he knew they were, he knew they could hold their own in a fight and they could lead. “We aren’t just given power and titles - unlike the other side.”
Nodding he smiled. “I might just take you up on the offer. I’ll see how things go, depending on that...I might need a lot of help...or maybe none.” He was hoping to keep the need for help to a minimum but there was no telling really, teaching in this capacity was new for him.
“I get to be a real teacher...and I have to teach you - that should be fun...just don’t expect me to go easy on you.” Smiling more. “But, that’s not for tonight. Tonight you get used to the information dump, knowing what..I just brought you into...and accepting it. It’s a lot.” It was life changing, in so many ways. To know you faced death...that one night you might just not come home...that maybe a body would be found - maybe not. It was a lot and he wasn’t going to dump more on his cousin tonight, no training and no more powering up for the night. He still felt bad for what he’d done, and that was proven by his voice every so often and the looks he kept giving his cousin. This was obviously something he planned to do on his own, without family, without anyone close to him knowing. This was a battle, a ris, he wanted to throw himself into all alone….and suffer alone...and triumph alone in.
It wasn’t for any other reason than not wanting their lives at risk like his own was, it was for the only right reason - the only good reason. He still would keep the rest of his family from this war if he could, he would keep Aiden from this war. He would keep them blissfully ignorant and safe. Quote: It was surprising that his cousin hadn’t personally run into anyone that wasn’t ready for the promotion but he was also glad for it. Stories of people who got promoted in armies without true experience or ability was something that he heard now and again so it was good to hear it wasn’t prevalent in the Negaverse at least.
“Just let me know if you do need help.” Hux said with a smile and a nod. When Alex mentioned how he would be teaching him the taller man gave a chuckle. “Guess we might end up teaching each other at some point if you do end up needing help with teaching your classes.” He joked though at the reminder of what happened earlier has his smile dropping a bit. “Time to let it all sink in is very appreciated, Tink.” Quote: “Yes, it looks like that might become the case.” He said with a smile twisting his lips upward. How amusing this would be, younger teaching older and older teaching younger. Though...he was younger in numbers was he really younger than his cousin? He had seen and done far more than his cousin had. He doubted he’d be able to keep it all from him for long either, his cousin would find out - somehow. It was likely his cousin would catch him killing someone, and he didn’t know how Hux would react to that - damn it.
“You’ll have all the time you need. Just...just promise me you won’t power up until your ready...and let me know - don’t go out alone.” He whispered, his slate eyes pleading silently with his cousin. He’d lost too many, too many had been hurt and too many had changed sides. He couldn’t have his cousin get hurt or leave him in some way. Quote: Hux gave an answering smile, also seeing the possible irony in the teaching situation. It didn’t make him any less glad for the help though and he welcomed it with open arms. His smile fell though when Alex asked him to promise to not go out alone powered up. “I promise Alexandre, I won’t power up without being ready and will not go out without letting you know.” He might not know what his cousin had gone through but it was obvious that there were plenty of unhappy and dangerous moments to cause such a reaction. Quote: Nodding his head, accepting his cousins answer, he held a hand out to him. “We’ll go slow on training when we start. I don’t want you to hold back, I can take whatever you can throw at me.” And then some, he was stronger when powered up, alot stronger, and he’d had worse. He had the scars to prove that he’d had worse than his cousin, who was the human equivalent to a teddy bear, could throw at him.
“I’ll bring you out tomorrow night with me. I may be a general but I still have duties, i don’t get to slack off and laze about on my a**.” Quote: Hux took Alex’s hand and gave another smile. “I can’t promise I won’t hold back, at least at first until I see with my own eyes you can take it as well as see what it is I can actually do.” He could remember the feeling of strength in himself when he was powered but he could also remember the almost overwhelming feeling of his cousin so he knew logically he was stronger. Sometimes logic wasn’t enough though so he wouldn’t promise to fight with his all just yet. “Sounds like a plan.” He said though he was about to ask what types of duties the other had until he thought better of it. Quote: “Trust me. I can punch holes into things and dent walls...I’ve got more than enough strength.” Shaking his head he gave the others hand a squeeze. “I’ve also had a car dropped on me.” He added casually. Considering he’d had a burning building falling down about him, he’d been carried out of that one, and recently had a shattered bone...well a car being dropped on him didn’t seem as bad? Or maybe it was and he was just numb to such things at this point? But the car hadn’t broken things and it wasn’t a burning building where smoke or fire could kill you...or just ******** you up.
“I’ll be the one having to hold back, I don’t care for hurting you - your family.” And he was an officer now. He would never hurt a fellow officer, unless they were a traitor….then he wouldn’t hold back. In fact, he might be the first in line to handle any traitor they had. How odd that was...since he’d not too long ago had treacherous thoughts...but no more. No, those had been burned away and scattered to the winds. Quote: Hux gave a slight shrug and squeezed Alex’s hand back. “Knowing what you said is true and believing it can be different at times Tink.” He was trying to not worry about the fact that his tiny cousin had a car dropped on him. The trying wasn’t going very well though so he ended up asking about it. “Why and when did you have that dropped on you?” He wasn’t surprised that the other was saying he preferred not to hurt family. Quote: “I suppose that’s true...you’ll just have to see that I can hold my own, despite my size.” He said shaking his head. He wasn’t called Tink for no reason. It was a nickname he’d gotten from his own parents, as a child, and it had spread through his family which included Lily and her family. He was the smallest of his cousins...and the smallest in his family for his age. Tink was shortened from Tinkerbell, a tiny fairy, and it wasn’t something most people knew, in fact no one outside of his family had a clue about the nickname.
“I upset a princess….the senshi Polaris is the senshi of magnitism...I attacked a knight of her’s and she turned up. Royal senshi have knights. The planets you know, the ones in this system, Mars, Mercury, and the rst have knights but so do royal senshi. Polaris...the star...is cold and covered in snow and lots of metal buildings. I came to, for a short while, a sort of peace with it’s Princess...though that was an undercover mission if I’m being honest. But...I wouldn’t mind seeing Polaris, the star not the senshi, again….to look up and see stars and feel adrift in the universe...to feel as small as we all really are….and to see the remains of a world - a society that was so different and was around so long ago.” He said smiling lightly at the memories, a sort of wondrous and soft look taking up residence upon his features.
“It’s hard to put into words...but I suppose it’s what a person might feel if they were to find out magic was real by stumbling upon a magic filled moore, or something similar. The awe and feeling something so much bigger than yourself, something just...breathtaking…” THen you had to remember what senshi were, the danger they posed, and knights. And you wanted to remove them - all of them...but somehow be able to reach their worlds and see them, walk down abandoned streets and enter into buildings no one had entered in so long. To look up at the stars above and not see the same stars, or moon, that you were used to. Quote: Hux watched as his cousin spoke of crossing the Princess and then move on to talking about the worlds and long lost civilisations on them. The look in Alex’s eyes was one of awe and childlike wonder and it made Hux want to visit some of the places spoken of and more. It was almost enough to make him regret not being able to grab the item that would turn him into a Knight just to see. Almost but not quite. “So it’s like Ancient Rome, the ruins are a wonder but the past civilisation was horrid over all.” He figured out loud. Quote: “A modern...ish city, in metal...with roads and streets...a city. Snow covering the ground and terribly cold. I don’t know how people survived there.” He would never know, he had to hope they had some form of heating, but who knows. “But it’s all devoid of life...just the buildings are left. I believe knights...their wonders are places on these planets - places of importance.” He wasn’t entirely sure as he had very few knights he was on talking terms with, and those terms had always been rather strained.
“But yes, the past life as far as I can tell was horrid. Not just due to the lack of modern things...but whatever brought them down…” Which may have been different for each planet. But they obviously weren’t strong enough. It wasn’t just like when Rome fell..the world continued on, civilization continued on. Here it all ended - all life. “There isn’t anything living...no insects even.” Quote: Hux wondered if the planet was that cold originally or if the snow and cold came later after or during the fall of the planet but wasn’t going to ask out loud since he knew that Alex probably wouldn’t have any answer for that. When his cousin mentioned that there was no life at all he frowned slightly as he tried to imagine what it would feel like standing on a lifeless planet. It sounded like something out of a horror film or book. “So other planets are basically ghost towns.” With a lot of lost history that wasn’t likely to be recovered which was a shame. Quote: “Yeah….I think they all are. Senshi and knights were reborn here because their home worlds are devoid of life. With nothing living there they can’t even support life.” You could visit, go there for a short time and bring supplies, but living there was impossible. “We were once knights, in the ancient past...or descended from knights...both of us.” He said motioning between himself and his cousin. “I like going to space, it’s an interesting thing...wondrous...but I don’t want to claim some lifeless place as mine…” With no one there and nothing to do...it seemed hopeless really. Just a place for him and only him. The lost history was something he’d felt for when talking to Polaris, when seeing books written in a language no one alive would know.
It would bother him if he had a wonder, if he was a knight, and he knew it would. It wasn’t something he wanted, he was happy to be a Negaverse agent. A wonder was only good for looks...for the wonder it would fill him with. That was it...there was little more to gain from being a knight in his opinion.
“We should watch a movie and relax before bed. It’s been a long night.” Quote: Hux nodded at his cousin’s words and tried not to ponder too much on just what they happened to be, reincarnated or descendants, since it was highly unlikely they would find out. Even if they did find out it wouldn’t matter in the long run since they were Negaverse anyway, it would simply be a curiosity that would end up breeding more curiosity and questions. “What about if the planets could support life and there was life there, would you want to claim it as yours then?” He couldn’t help but ask, a small smile on his face. The mention of a movie and bed though had his thoughts derailing a bit as he realized just how tired he was. “It has indeed been a long night. Shall we pick something soon then?” Quote: “Perhaps...but I doubt that will ever be the case. I did find out, from a knight, that I would have been a Castor knight in all likelihood.” Which is what he had been in the past, or someone in their family had been. It wasn’t anything he was interested in claiming, he wasn’t interested in ever purifying. He knew the prince of Castor and was not a fan of him in any manner.
“But it being on Castor...that would keep me from it. If it were somewhere else...and it could support life...perhaps.” He answered with a shrug before standing slowly. “Let’s figure out a movie.” He had, next to the tv, a nice set up which held all the dvd’s he had. “Something without action, it’s late, so something relaxing.” Quote: Hux would ask later on if Alex had a problem with the planet Castor or in the Senshi of it, or maybe even just the Knight’s of it, but not now. Now he was content to let it slide so his mind could absorb all the new information and changes without adding more to it. Instead he gave a smile and moved to look through the movies that his cousin had. “Sounds good to me.”
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