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 Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 6:57 pm
Sutai was very thankful she didn't run into any Negaverse agents tonight. She didn't feel quite ready to attempt to take one another person with special powers - not yet. Youma were fine, they were monsters. But people? People were more of a gray area, and Sutai hoped never to run into someone with the inclination to kill. She knew she simply didn't have a fighting chance without help. The Polar Squire sighed, stopping her patrol to stand atop a nondescript office building. Some Chaos signatures were dancing on the outskirts of her sensory range, stepping in and out of her ability to pinpoint a location. She didn't quite feel up to tracking them down, not without some more information. It was then that an Order signature, higher than her own and definitely a Knight, flared to life nearby. Gleeful, Sutai trotted in that direction instead. They must've been a Knight, and perhaps they could fill her in on everything she had missed in the past two years. She came to the very edge of the building and looked down upon the next rooftop, about one story below. There, she spotted who she presumed to be the Knight she was looking for. He wore green, from what she could tell at this distance. “Umm… excuse me!” she cried from her vantage point. “Excuse me! Umm… may I join you, please?” Best to be polite, after all. These days it wasn’t often that Sessrumnir didn’t patrol without Remus around. They were pretty inseparable as it was, but there was also the need for them to do their own thing and to grow, even if it was increasingly dangerous with everything considered. That night, Michael had a teachers meeting to attend, and since it was late and he was sure Remus was off doing his own thing, he decided to power up to make sure there wasn’t anyone lurking where they shouldn’t be.
Instead of finding any Negaverse officers or youma nearby, it was a squire, who had apparently immediately sought him out. An eyebrow raised when she called to him from across the building, and he lifted his arms to cross over his chest to scowl up in her direction.
“I guess,” he frowned, not really knowing what she expected to gain from approaching him, but he figured there was no harm in hearing what she had to say or ask or whatever, and then telling her to run along home before the monsters came and ate her.
No, it wasn’t the nicest thing to think or say, but Sessrumnir couldn’t bring himself to care. Sutai merrily bounced her way over to her superior, noting that he appeared to be either an Earth knight like Camelot, or a Jupiter knight like Valhalla. When she got close enough, the Polaris squire gave the knight a curtsey and introduced herself. “I’m Sutai, Squire of Polaris! It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir. Thank you for letting me join you! I do so appreciate it very much.” she prattled, twiddling her fingers together in nervousness. The knight seemed rather… perturbed by her presence. “It’s been a while since I’ve been back in the city and, well… I’m glad it’s still here! In India, the Negaverse isn’t quite as active as it is here in the United States. I wonder why that is?” The bubbly squire shook her head. It was neither here nor there. It was then that she noted the number 4 on the man’s head… wings? Valhalla had a 4 on his outfit as well. This man must be a Jupiter knight! “Ah, I don’t mean to pry, sir, but do you know Mister Valhalla? He’s a very strong and kind man. I met him once before I had to leave. Are you two friends, perhaps?” Oops, she was talking too much, and the knight didn’t seem to happy about it. With a nervous laugh, Sutai cut to the chase, waving her hands before her. “Ah! Anyway, I was hoping I could accompany you on your patrol, if you have one, and learn what I’ve missed since I’ve been gone…” Sutai caught herself making assumptions again and blushed furiously. “T-t-that is, if you don’t mind, sir!” ”Sessrumnir,” he greeted somewhat gruffly in return as Sutai introduced herself. She was rather chipper for a knight who had apparently not been around in a while, and Sessrumnir could feel his scowl deepening the more she spoke.
While he knew it shouldn’t have surprised him, Sessrumnir stared at her when Valhalla was mentioned. It lasted only a moment before he shrugged. “Never heard of him,” he lied, knowing it was bad enough that people thought to associate the two of them because of their affiliation to Jupiter.
It wasn’t that he thought she was a threat or didn’t like his brother, but he was concerned about Valhalla’s physical state, and the less stress put on him the better.
At least until they figured out something to do about his starseed.
“If you want,” he said, knowing that his responses were short and hopefully discouraging. It would be better for her to realize being around him was a bad idea on her own. It would be easier in the long run if she just changed her mind.
“I’m not really the story telling type,” he said as he looked away from her to head in the direction he had been going before she appeared. “If you have questions, ask. I can’t promise I will be able to answer them, though. You’re probably better off just going back to India, though.”
It would be safer as long as she didn’t power up.
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Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 7:05 pm
The squire was visibly discouraged, not even thinking to hide her frown of disappointment when her superior gave off such a gruff demeanor. “Well, regardless, Mister Sess-rum-nir…” She stopped to carefully enunciate each syllable, finding his name difficult to pronounce quickly. “...it is still a pleasure to meet you.”
It didn’t surprise her to learn that Sessrumnir didn’t know of Valhalla - after all, she did not know all the Polaris knights. It was to be expected.
Sutai began to nervously fuss with her skirt, thinking of but a few questions to ask so Sessrumnir could be on his (not-so-merry) way. Perhaps he was waiting for someone, or he was busy? Sutai simply hated to be a bother. “Ah… sir, did something… exceptionally bad happen while I was away? It’s been about two years, you see… Family business.” Best leave it at that.
“India might be safer on the whole, sir, but Princess Polaris, I think, would be very disappointed to find out that one of her knights ran away forever…” The squire sighed then, thinking wistfully of the Princess she so loved and adored. “But I did not run away! Grandfather and Grandmother’s estates simply cannot settle themselves, and I missed Destiny City… and my job!”
Somehow she didn’t think Sessrumnir would be impressed with her programming skills…
_________________________________________
It was difficult for Sessrumnir not to roll his eyes at the young woman’s question. Anything bad that happened over the past two years was a long list, but he couldn’t necessarily think of what would be relevant to her, now. Maybe he would make something up on top of everything that had happened, if only to scare her from hanging around.
But there was something else she said before he could open his mouth to tell her about the attack on the Negaverse or anything else, his eyes widening momentarily as he turned to look at her more fully, as if she’d grown an extra head.
“You’re worried that Princess Polaris would be disappointed?” he asked, his voice still quiet, but there was a storm brewing in his icy blue eyes as he watched her. “Out of everything, you worry about Princess Polaris being disappointed.” He had nothing against the woman, but he also didn’t believe in relying on anyone but themselves, so putting pressure onto someone who he personally hadn’t seen in years was not only unfair to her, but to everyone else as well.
“Did you not make your pledge to Sutai?” he asked, his voice still somewhat calm, although his teeth clenched together as he bristled somewhat. “You are a knight. You are doing yourself a disfavor by living your life by what Princess Polaris would think. And being unfair to her. You are not her knight. You are not subservient to senshi. And until you realize that you need to make your own path, you’ll never be fully prepared for this war.”
Maybe he was being a bit harsh. Maybe he wasn’t giving her enough credit. Maybe he would feel differently if there was a Princess or Prince Jupiter around, but he doubted it. While his wonder was located on Jupiter, he felt no obligation for anything but Sessrumnir.
The squire fidgeted under Sessrumnir’s intense gaze, her eyes welling with tears before she could stop it. He was right - Sutai was not subservient to Princess Polaris, but she loved the princess so. Polaris believed in her when no one else did. Didn’t Sessrumnir have someone like that too?
“B-but… she… I…”
Sutai curled her hands together and placed them under her chin, sniffling and trying desperately not to cry. Crying was for the weak. But without Tsui and Polaris to hold her up and believe in her, Sutai all but crumbled under the pressures of the reality of the war. She was not capable of being a good knight like Sessrumnir. She just… wasn’t.
Sobs wracked her form now, shoulders shaking and cheeks swelling. “P-princess… she… she believes in me... b-b-but she’s gone… she’s gone now… and so is Tsui… I can’t…”
Sutai suddenly shook her head to and fro, turning away from the superior Jupiter knight in shame. Her braid swung with the movement, little charms singing a woeful song. “...I...I can’t be strong like you, M-mister Sessrumnir… I… I can’t go on my own…” It was so shameful to her to admit that she simply depended too much on other people to help her along in the war. She wasn’t a fighting force. She wasn’t skilled in martial arts or magics or even acrobatics. “Y-you’re right…”
Gulping sobs continued in otherwise utter silence.
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Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 7:07 pm
He meant to upset her. He meant to make her think about what she was really doing, possibly even throwing her life away for something that wouldn’t even matter in the end. He probably even meant to make her cry because she seemed the type to get all emotional and weepy when someone broke the perfect little bubble she’d wrapped herself and the world up in.
That didn’t mean he didn’t feel bad about it.
He watched her, his lips pressed together in a firm line, keeping himself from saying anything until she managed to get whatever blubbering she had out. She was young, she was inexperienced, she didn’t know what war was like, she focused too much on others instead of how she felt, herself.
It was a dangerous combination, and part of him wondered just how long she was going to last. Who was going to end up killing her, or worse, take her starseed?
After several long moments of letting her sob, Sessrumnir drew in a breath and let out a long suffered sigh.
“You’re here now, aren’t you? You powered up for a reason, right?” he pointed out, his voice still not the kindest, but it wasn’t as though he was yelling at her. “Even though you knew they aren’t around, you still powered up. Why? If you know you’re not strong, why bother? What made you want to power up again?”
There was another long pause, Sessrumnir gritting his teeth as he debated with himself about what else he wanted to do. She had no place in this war. A lot of people had no place, but that didn’t mean he didn’t feel bad about it, knowing they wanted to help and not knowing how.
“He’s my brother. Valhalla,” he finally admitted tensely. “Two years ago he was almost forced to corrupt. Now he’s slowly dying from a crack in his starseed.” Could anyone really blame him for being tense?
You’re here now, aren’t you? You powered up for the a reason, right?
Sutai sniffed, her hair and eyes a total mess as she looked up from her sobbing. Tears still streamed down her tanned cheeks but she seemed… perplexed. Why had she powered up this evening, and all the other evenings since returning to Destiny City? Why had she even powered up while in India, when Tsui and Princess Polaris weren’t there to begin with? She protected the city of Patna while away from the United States…
The squire blinked, confused, and turned around to face Sessrumnir once more. “I… I wanted to protect the city…” She let out the breath she didn’t realize she held and looked up to her superior. “I wanted to protect my friends and family.” Sutai nodded to herself, slowly coming to the realization that Sessrumnir, for all his outward attitude, was trying to motivate her.
And she appreciated that.
When the Jupiter knight admitted to being related to dear Valhalla, all thoughts of thanking Sessrumnir for his… rather unconventional motivational speech flew right out the window. “What! Oh… oh no!!” cried she, and Sutai clung to one of the older man’s arms in distress. “Mister Valhalla is in trouble?! For two years, oh no… Is his pain recent, or has he been suffering like this for two years?” Her eldest brother was a surgeon but Sutai highly doubted Jayant could do anything concerning a starseed.
“Oh dear, oh no… poor Mister Valhalla…” Sutai let go of her grip on the Jupiter knight’s arm and started pacing, wringing her hands. “I’m sure, as his brother, you have already done everything you could think of but… if there is anything I can do to help, please tell me! Mister Valhalla is a very kind man, and I’ll do anything I can to assist!”
“Sounds to me like you already have everything worked out. You shouldn’t need anyone else to tell you what to do, and you shouldn’t worry about disappointing anyone but yourself,” he said with a shrug, feeling all kinds of awkward with all the tears. Yes, he felt bad, but not bad enough to try and be nicer about it. She already seemed to figure out the answer on her own, at least.
Maybe he underestimated just how many people knew his brother, but he stared at Sutai in surprise when she voiced her concern about Valhalla and his condition and reached out to cling to his arm, a grimace making its way onto his expression as he held his arm, and her, away from him. That was another thing he felt bad about. Maybe he should not have mentioned anything at all because if she was going to worry over him, well. He didn’t want her to be distracted.
“Just be careful and don’t give him a reason to worry about you. I can let him know you’re back in the states if you’d like. I’m sure he’d be glad to know you’re okay.”
As for assisting with anything, he just shrugged. “If you hear anything about fixing fractured starseeds, let me know,” he said, not knowing what else to say. “There’s been a lot going on. There was an attack on the Negaverse about a year ago. Many people died, but we were able to take out one of their General Queens, maybe two. I’m sure they’ll be rebuilding so it’s going to be dangerous.”
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Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 7:09 pm
Amidst her tittering and concern, Sutai took note of the defeat of at least one General-Queen. She knew them to be the equivalent of her own beloved Princess, and the fewer Negaverse sovereigns there were, the better everything else was. “I promise, Mister Sess-rum-nir,” Sutai stumbled over his name, slowing down to pronounce each syllable individually and carefully. “I promise I will try not to give Mister Valhalla any reason to worry about me. He is a very strong man and you are too, I’m sure of it.” The Squire was so wrapped up in her concern for Sessrumnir’s brother that she didn’t even notice she was being held at length.
“I will make him food, too. Homemade food in your belly can really help brighten your spirits…” Sutai sighed, letting go of her grip on the knight’s arm. She began to fidget with the hem of her tutu. “...I know that won’t fix his starseed, but I’ll do everything I can to help. Mister Valhalla was so kind to me, I’d hate to know he is suffering and not do anything about it…”
After a few moments of silent introspection, Sutai lifted her head and offered what little information she had. “Um… I’m sure you’ve already thought of this but, could Mister Camelot give it a try? I mean, I know he can purify Negaverse officers into knights and things. I’ve met Mister Camelot before, I could try to find him again, if you want? Hmm…”
The squire tapped her chin, swaying side to side as she thought. “Oh, Mister Sessrumnir, I hope Mister Valhalla’s wife is doing well. I don’t recall her name, sir, but I’m sure she’s by her husband’s side. If either one of them need help around the house or running errands or something, I can do that!” Her enthusiasm somewhat renewed, Sutai made an internal promise not only to herself, but to Sessrumnir. “And… I’m so very glad you made it back from the attack on the Negaverse, Mister Sessrumnir…”
He tried not to look too amused that she was having difficulty pronouncing his name, his lips twitching a little at the corners, but he focused on trying to keep the seemingly perpetual frown on his face.
“You can just call me Sess,” he offered after she tried saying the full name once more, figuring that would be easier for everyone involved. The thought of her making his brother food was amusing as well, although he didn’t discourage it because he was sure Paris wouldn’t mind the help, what with having the twins to take care of as well.
“Ganymede,” he clarified when Sutai mentioned how she couldn’t remember the name. “I’ll let her know you’ve offered to help. I’m sure she would appreciate it.”
The suggestion to seek the help of Camelot was a good suggestion; however, Sessrumnir knew that Valhalla had already tried the other knight for his knowledge on starseeds and fixing them, or at least fixing his magic. Unfortunately the other seemed just as at a loss as Cosmos and several others. He refrained from dashing her hopes.
“Thank you, Sutai,” he said quietly, although he didn’t think he was all that strong. Not like Valhalla at least. Physically maybe, but there was more to strength than just muscle and he was very aware of that fact. “I’m glad you decided to come back. We could use the help,” he said after a moment now that he’d had the chance to figure out that she really did mean well, his voice a little strained but not as rough as it was before. Not that he was going to apologize, but.
The Squire beamed at Sessrumnir’s thanks, her crying fit earlier all but forgotten. “Mister Sess, I promise I’ll help however I can. If you could less Misses Ganymede know, I’ll help around the house! Cooking and cleaning, I’m good at the domestic stuff.” She gave a giggle, fussing with the hem of one of the layers of her tutu. “...taking care of an injured or sick person takes so very much time and energy, and sometimes housework and such fall by the wayside. That’s what happened when Grandmother and Grandfather were in hospice care…”
With renewed vigor, the Squire clenched her fists. “I’ll give you my number, how’s about that? Ah, Miss Delphi has the neat ring where you can send people messages but… I don’t have that yet…” Sutai sputtered for a few moments, clearly embarrassed. “Ah, but I’m working on it! I promise.”
Whipping out her cellphone from the place in her bodice that she’d stuffed it after powering up, the Squire went about adding a new contact. “Umm… Mister Sess, may I have your number too? You can call me whenever you need something! Umm… I also do computer programming for a living, if you need help with that too!” Another giggle and the Squire waited patiently for her superior’s preferred method of contact so she could (hopefully) assist with the Valhalla Dilemma.
She was… well, she was something. She shifted emotions easily, which had Sessrumnir a little concerned, but if she wasn’t still upset with him then maybe that was a good thing. Or maybe the crying had been fake, he wasn’t sure. No matter what it was, as long as she seemed as though she wanted to help out however she could, Sessrumnir supposed that was fine.
There was a distinct hesitation in providing his information to her. He didn’t just go around giving out his cell phone number, or his identity, or anything like that. It seemed as though this woman knew his brother, but he didn’t know how well. And she knew that Valhalla was married at the very least.
"I’ll give it to you, but I want you to be absolutely clear," he stared, giving her a stern look. "You better protect this information with your life. I’ve already seen what the future looked like when my identity was compromised. I will not have you risking the lives of my family, do you understand?"
Maybe he was being a little harsh, but he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if Caspian, or anyone else in his family, got into danger because Sessrumnir lowered his guard.
The mention of the future made the Squire shiver. She remembered being… evil. Against her will, her mind fractured, she stalked her girlfriend through the streets of Destiny City.
That wasn’t real though, right? It was just a dream? Sutai shook her head vigorously.
“I really appreciate your trust in me, Mister Sessrumnir. I promise, on my Wonder and my own family too, that nothing ill will come of me having your number. In fact, as soon as I have my special Knight ring, I promise I’ll delete it from my phone, okay? I’ll um… I’ll even show you!” With a confident nod, Sutai actually thought she may be able to climb the mountain now, knowing Sessrumnir had trusted her like this. She appreciated his trust, and even under his stern gaze, she felt new resolve in her heart.
Clasping her hands together, the Squire beamed at Sessrumnir. “...thank you, Mister Sessrumnir. It… it’s an honor to have met you. I promise! I promise I’ll climb the mountain and get my ring and… and maybe I can find a way to help Mister Valhalla. Um… in the meantime though, please let me know if you need anything, okay? I’ve got lots of yummy goodies for you, if you want. Have a good night, Mister Sessrumnir!”
With that, Sutai stepped back to give the stern Jupiter Knight a curtsey and turned on her heels to head home. She had many things to think about.
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