((This is backdated to shortly after Arian's return from the UK))
Arian wasn't sure what to make of the message that he had received as Athene, the message that had stated that Ida was alive.
No that wasn't true - at first he had thought it a trick - because it had to be a trick...
A horrible, messed up trick.
Because it had been almost a year since his friend and former flatmate's mysterious disappearance.
But then he had finally headed home to the apartment from his cousin's place and found traces that someone had been there - traces that just didn't make sense given that he had been away and whilst he had asked the twins to look in on Lola - the traces seemed to be more than someone stopping by to feed a cat.
He'd told Liryn of the message that he'd received, but then had slipped out of the apartment, head full of too many thoughts - too many memories.
And so he had decided to go out and patrol for a bit.
And perhaps it wasn't particularly a sensible decision given the turmoil of thoughts and his mixed up frame of mind but he hadn't wanted to be at the apartment and he didn't want to go over to his cousin's place.
His steps had taken him pass A&H Bakeries and Arian had found himself pausing, a little startled to find the bakery open.
He had hesitated for a moment before eventually moving to push the door open, having gotten used to picking up a hot drink prior to heading out on patrol...
And whilst A&H Bakeries wasn't one of the usual places that Arian went to pick up hot drinks prior to heading out on patrol, today wasn't exactly a usual day.
Just a hot chocolate he told himself tiredly and then I'll find somewhere to power up.
Because time of day aside, Arian wasn't really in the mood to linger.
Kyuseisha no Hikari
Hope this works as a start Kyu, but lmk if I should tweak
Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2016 8:15 pm
Things at A&H Bakeries were just about the same as the last time Arian had been there, with the exception of Arias’ hair being a little longer, tied back in a low ponytail as he cleaned the counter. His eyes flicked up to the door and he smiled when he recognized the male in front of him.
“Arian,” he greeted. “Long time, no see. You came at the right time. I’m going to be closing up in the next fifteen minutes and I need to get rid of some of these sweets. What can I get for you?”
Arian nodded because it had been a while since he had last popped in, something that was in part down to him having been out of the country, and managed a small smile that was somewhat on the wan side.
"Actually I'm just looking for a hot chocolate this evening" he admitted.
It was perhaps a little unusual order - or at least unusual for him given Arian's usual tendency to pick up at least a cupcake and generally more - however this time round Arian quietly fished out some change from his wallet.
It was enough to cover a hot chocolate.
Kyuseisha no Hikari
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 9:13 pm
Arias seemed to realize the order was a little strange; he blinked and nodded, a bit surprised. “Well, I’ve got plenty of that left, too.”
He didn’t ask what size Arian wanted and honestly wasn’t too worried about him paying, even.
He was happier just to see the man around.
He filled up the largest cup he had and set it on the counter. “All yours. How have you been. You taking care?”
"I've been okay, thank you" Arian said quietly as he absently set the coins that he had fished out from his wallet on the counter.
It was even true as far as it went - at least health wise - and it had been a while since his last hospital trip.
And if he was a little tired then that didn't mean that he wasn't fine...
Even if 'little' was perhaps something of an understatement.
And his mixed up feelings about the fact that his absent flatmate - his absent for almost a year - flatmate was not as he assumed dead didn't mean that he wasn't fine either.
"Thank you for this" he said quietly started to reach for the cup of hot chocolate and only then noticed that it was a large and that he had only put down enough money for a regular.
"I'm sorry" Arian reached for his wallet again as he tried to remember if he had enough coins to cover the shortage.
Kyuseisha no Hikari
Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2016 10:11 pm
Arias blinked and then hastily held his hands up. "Oh--no, no. Please, it's a gift, Arian. If you insist on paying, I'll take what you've got here," he said, gesturing to the money he'd already produced. "The upgrade is on the house. It's getting cold out there, you ought to stay warm. Besides--I've got more of it brewed and I doubt we'll have enough customers. I'd drink the rest myself, but," a hand went to his stomach. "Too much milk never sits well with me."
He smiled, as if that sealed the deal.
"You have any fun plans for tonight, or just planning on getting home?"
The truth was, he was restless and didn't quite know what to do with himself; he may or may not have been fishing around for ideas for what to do to occupy his time while he had some.
"Uh.." Arian had managed to open up his wallet and had been in the process of reaching out to feel inside, but at Arias' words he shut it back.
"Thank you" he didn't reach to take back the coins, however he did slip his wallet away.
"And no I don't really have any real plans" he admitted quietly. "I'll probably just go straight home - mayhaps have an early night."
It was even kind of true - well at least as far as the not really having any plans went - it was the early night that he was lying about.
Arian reached for the hot chocolate as he added "I should probably get going though - but thank you again for this."
Kyuseisha no Hikari
Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2017 1:14 pm
Arias flashed a smile. "That sounds like a good plan. You take it easy, stay warm."
He was always happy to work--and to see a friend, but he knew that as soon as he finished closing up here, he was going to have to head out and power up. There was too much in this city that needed protecting, and he just wanted to make sure he was doing his part.
Some hot chocolate to go sounded like a good idea; he was already fancying a cup for himself before he headed out.
"Thank you" Arian said quietly "Same goes for you."
He didn't actually say that he would take it easy, which would have been as much a lie as his earlier one about planning to go straight home, instead he picked up the hot chocolate before turning and heading for the door.
Outside he turned right instead of the left that would take him in the direction of home because one of the streets up ahead turned into an alleyway.
There were some dumpsters down there which he was planning to use as cover to power up as Athene.
Kyuseisha no Hikari
Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 3:19 am
Arias waited a moment until he was sure Arian was gone before he moved to the close the bakery up. In that time, he managed to brew himself a quick cup of hot chocolate and package it up in another to-go cup. Overall, he was convinced the bakery was in decent condition--and what wasn't finished now, he could take care of later; he had to patrol while he still had time to do that tonight. He slipped into the back and locked up there before stepping outside.
Though there were several connecting alleyways, this one was tucked away from everyone and even though it was close to his bakery, he had never really worried about it being in danger. There was rarely a powered presence in these parts--and it was safer than walking around unpowered.
He checked on last time that everything was locked up before he drew in a breath and powered up himself. The air was cold and fresh--perfect for hot chocolate. He'd have to thank Arian the next time he saw him.
The alleyway that Arian had in mind was only a few streets away and whilst he wouldn't normally chance powering up so close to the bakery it had seemed quiet enough for him to take a chance..
Well that and there were a few dumpsters just a little further down that seemed good for cover.
Carefully setting down his satchel Arian took a few moments to prop the take out cup with the - by now - most likely not-so hot chocolate against it before summoning his jade and bronze henshin pen to hand-
And whilst the cup was a little precariously balanced, Arian reckoned that it would hold for long enough to make the change to Athene.
He stepped towards the closest dumpster, intending to do the actual henshin itself from behind it...
There was not an inkling in Arian's mind of anything going wrong - not when this was something that he had done on several occasions over his years as a senshi.
Kyuseisha no Hikari
hope this works as a precursor to identity reveal Kyu, but if not lmk and I will edit
Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2017 2:23 am
Newgrange stretched, rolling his shoulders and vaguely wondering if the smell of coffee and pastries would carry over from one form to the other. He sipped at his hot chocolate, figuring the smart thing to do would be to have put it in an unmarked cup or at least tossed it before he went out.
He didn't want Negaverse agents snooping around his bakery--while it was open or after.
Powered up, he began to make his way through the back alleyways, away from the bakery's back door. When he turned the corner, he didn't anticipate anyone else being there; movement caught him off guard.
litian
I hope this works! I figured maybe the alleyways are connected and he could show up just after he transforms or while/before he transforms--let me know! I am good with anything! <3
A sudden sound caught him off-guard, Arian tensing almost automatically just a few steps away from the dumpster - and whilst it was just a few steps, those few steps suddenly seemed so very, very long.
Arian stared at the surface of the dumpster, hand clenched around his henshin pen.
Perhaps he had imagined the noise, perhaps it was just a figment of his imagination and a side effect of him still being powered down.
But a part of him didn't want to turn around - didn't want to look-
Because the alleyway suddenly seemed too open - seemed too exposed - a part of him already regretting that he hadn't thought to go further out.
And staring at the dumpster wasn't going to solve anything and there was still a chance that he had imagined things or the noise wasn't anything too serious.
But even that logic wasn't enough to prevent Arian staring at the dumpster for a moment longer, as his hand clenching down on his henshin pen even more tightly.
A moment passed, then two...
And then he hunched his shoulders and turned.
Kyuseisha no Hikari
works for me Kyu - hope this counter-works too :3
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 1:14 am
Newgrange finally stepped around the corner curiously; he automatically blinked when he saw Arian. He hadn’t expected the man to be the sort to hang out in dark alleyways, but—
Wait.
What was that?
His eyes went to the pen he was clutching in his hand.
Newgrange might have been a Knight, but he’d been around Henshin Pens enough—especially his sister’s—to know what one looked like. He was automatically suspicious and his eyes darted from the pen to Arian’s face.
“Didn’t mean to interrupt you,” he said after a second of silence. “Sorry.”
At first, Newgrange turned around—either to give him privacy or to stay out of his way—but that was short lived and he was shaking his head.
“Actually—wait, no. Arian? You’re…A Senshi?”
That was what he was holding, wasn’t it? It wasn’t really easy to see in the darkness.
It would have been impossible to hide the henshin pen with it literally in his hand, but Arian found his hunched shoulders relaxing slightly as he caught sight of the taller man garbed in browns and green - because whilst he was unpowered and thus didn't have the benefit of auras to help him, he had been around for long enough to recognise the Earth knight symbol–
And out of all of the people out there that could have caught him out with henshin pen in hand, being caught by a knight - even one who was unfamiliar like this one - was probably one of the better case scenarios.
No it was definitely one of the better scenarios.
He had murmured a quiet "It's okay" at the other's apology, the two words coated in relief at the near miss and then as the other turned away he had raised the henshin pen to power up–
He wasn't expecting the other to suddenly swing back and his eyes widened from beneath his glasses as the other suddenly addressed him by name.
"Um yes" he admitted quietly at last, his eyes glancing warily around the alleyway for a moment "At least I am sometimes" and by sometimes he meant when he wasn't being Arian.
His gaze returned to glance up at the taller knight, who obvious knew his name as he tried to see if he could place the other–
But it was futile, suggesting that perhaps they hadn't crossed paths - at least not on the powered front.
"I'm sorry" he said at last. "You seem to know who I am, but I don't think we've ever met powered."
