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 Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2017 6:22 pm
Mirrors were scary, and they had managed to horrify Malus twice tonight.
First, when he and Lysithea had been patrolling, and he had been walking next to her, minding his own business, and then saw movement right next to him. He thought someone was sneaking up on him, ready to attack, and he jumped back (and, shamefully, even yelped). When the initial fear wore off and he realized it was only his reflection, he laughed awkwardly, trying to chuckle away the heart attack—only to find himself being sucked into the mirror.
It had taken a good few seconds to process, but after his mind drew a jarring blank for a good chunk of that time, the cogs began turning, rapidly.
Too rapidly.
He started in the park, saw a mirror, mirror grabbed him, mirror ate him? –Sucked into the mirror. In a room. Four walls, all white. No doors. No exit.
Trapped.
His breath caught in his throat and for a brief flash, he forgot how to breathe. Frantically, he tried to call for Lysithea, only to realize that he had no voice.
So, he began pacing the room, fingers tracing the walls desperately as he tried to find what his eyes were missing.
As he tried to find the way out. Or, at least to Lysithea.
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Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 8:53 am
Kari didn’t realize what had happened until it was too late to do anything about it. She had been looking at her reflection in the mirror, sighing about the dark circles under her eyes and trying to see if she could do anything to hide them from everyone who would care about them...maybe some makeup would help?
She hadn’t noticed anything wrong with the mirror until it was suddenly pulling her in. Oh. Oh no.
When she reached...wherever she was, Kari looked around, frowning and crossing her arms over her chest. Upon seeing the purple clad senshi, she relaxed a little bit, not much, but enough that she was able to take a step forward. “Um...Where are we? What is this place..and who are you? I...I’m Sailor Kari...Uh…”
She cleared her throat and reached up, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. “I’m not really...sure what’s going on…”
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Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 9:10 am
When Malus turned, he was so hopeful that it was someone that he knew but he looked like he might have crumbled for a split second when it wasn’t Lysithea behind him.
“I don’t know where we are,” he answered honestly. “I’m Evan. I mean, no, that’s wrong.”
He looked particularly frazzled and had to raise his hand up to his forehead and try to force himself to focus. “I’m sorry. I’m Sailor Malus. I don’t know what happened or how I got here, really. I was just—I think I was in front of a mirror? I was with my friend, Lysithea, and then I felt like I was falling and wound up here, so I guess—I don’t know, a mirror sucking you up sounds kind of silly, uhm.” He hesitated and then asked uncertainly, “Doesn’t it?”
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Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 10:21 am
Kari swallowed, though brightened for a moment when he said that his name was Evan...there was a less than zero percent chance that it was her friend Evan, but she pounced on the name all the same. “Like...my Evan? I’m...I’m Gale...you...I mean, I’m sure you’re not my Evan but...but…”
She nodded slowly, listening to his explanation of how he had ended up here. “I was...I was just looking at myself in the mirror and it felt like it was trying to pull me through...and then I think it did...I don’t know. It sounds stupid...but if it’s the same thing that happened to you...it’s not so stupid…”
Looking around the empty room once more, Kari frowned. “...so where is your friend...did she come through the mirror too…?”
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2017 11:04 am
For a moment, Evan paled—and then a smile split across his face. “Gale?” he asked, sounding hopeful. “Like, Gale that I met in the park? I know you! I didn’t know you were a Senshi!”
It was the first time in a long time that he’d been happy to find out that someone he knew was powered. He had been worried about being stuck in here with someone that he didn’t know; he had a difficult time meeting new people, but he knew Gale.
“I don’t know where she is,” he answered honestly, “But she’s an eternal Senshi. To be honest, I was in the park and I saw my reflection and it spooked me, so while I was catching my breath I went to tell her I was alright and then I wasn’t. But Lysithea, she’s the best, Gale. Kari,” he corrected quickly. “She’s always got my back, so I know she’s looking for me right now. So we’ll be okay, I’m sure this is just some fluke. Are you okay?” he blurted. “I was going to invite you over for dinner tomorrow. I mean, if you’re my Gale. If I met you at the park, you’re the only Gale I know. Do you want dinner tomorrow night? I don’t bake a lot but I bought three pounds of pecans because they were on sale, and you’re the only person I know who I think can eat three pounds of pecans. So I’m making I’m making a sweet potato soufflé, pecan pie and—to be honest, I wanted to make some pecan pancakes, but I didn’t know if that was overdoing it. Monkey bread? No, maybe Pumpkin Spice French Toast Casserole? A peach and pecan salad, maybe, because that’s a lot of sugar.”
Food was his comfort zone. He could have talked forever about it, but seemed to realize that he was drifting away from the real conversation.
“…If any of that doesn’t sound good, let me know, or else I might just make all of it.”
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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2017 3:18 pm
Nodding, Kari managed a little smile. Lately she had only been able to manage them when she was around Evan, and that alone settled the matter that this was indeed her Evan. “Yeah. The one you met in the park...I didn’t know you were a senshi either...but I guess I should have suspected...with the way you’re so eager and willing to help people, it just makes sense, doesn’t it…?”
Of course he’d be a hero...he was a hero in every sense of the word. And she...she was just a lump. Just a lump. But...he wanted to invite her for dinner again...that made her smile once more, though the talk of all the food he was mentioning had her mouth watering slightly. “I mean...I’m not hungry at all right now, but that sounds...utterly fantastic and I would like nothing more than to come over and eat everything you’ve made...though…”
She hesitated then moved over, hugging her friend, clearly needing some sort of physical comfort. “I can’t really understand what would possess you to buy three pounds of pecans...that’s a little much, even for you Evan...I mean. Malus?” Stupid double names.
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 9:23 pm
Evan didn’t mind the hug; he even managed to return it. Some physical contact might make him uncomfortable, but not this. Not when he could tell that she needed it. “That’s what Cambria said. But she doesn’t understand how expensive they can be. Besides, they were organic and I just know they were priced wrong. Nobody sells organic pecans for six dollars a pound. I’m pretty sure they mixed up price per pound for total price. So you know I didn’t hesitate. But uhm. I mean, the whole hero thing.”
Evan shook his head. “No,” he said sheepishly, “I am pretty sure it was a mistake that I was made a Senshi. All I wanted to do was stay inside and cook and be safe. But the cat that awakened me sort of sprung it on me and I didn’t really—I…got scared and ran away.” He cleared his throat; it was obviously something he was ashamed of. “I’m just trying to overcome my own shortcomings and being around good people helps me feel good, too.”
He looked at her and smiled; he thought highly of her and seemed relieved to have her around. If he didn’t have a friend here…
He could feel the anxiety welling in his stomach, but having something else to channel it towards at least helped him keep his mind off of the fact that they were trapped in a mirror.
“I’m sorry you got stuck in here,” he murmured. “But I’m really happy that I’m not alone. I’m sorry if that’s selfish. But I have really bad anxiety and I’m pretty sure that you being here is the only thing keeping it together. My heart was about to jump out of my chest before you showed up, but now it seems like it’s doing okay.”
For now, at least.
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Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 8:52 pm
Kari nodded. “But still...you got away with a lot if that’s all you ended up paying...though I’m still not sure you’ll be able to go through so many pecans...that’s insane.” She still had a smile on her face for most of what he was saying, but finally it faded and she sighed.”But that cat saw the potential in you…and even though you don’t see yourself as a hero…you saved my life so…I really…you’re my hero…even if you’re not a hero to yourself. You are to me.”
Biting her lip, she shook her head, her pigtails flapping back and forth like two stupid looking dog ears. “No, that doesn’t sound selfish at all…I’m glad you’re here too…and I’m glad you’re someone that I know…and I’m very glad that you’re not someone else…because there are some people that I would rather not…not see. Or talk to…or ever remember that they exist ever again…”
She pulled out of the hug and reached out, taking his hand and squeezing it, seeming to need the physical anchor. “I…I don’t know how or why I got here…but I’m glad I’m with you…I…I really don’t think I’m doing so good…not that I seem to be ever doing good but…” Kari shook her head, shrugging. “It’s not getting better, I don’t think. I’m not getting happier…and I don’t know what to do anymore…” This might not be the time or place for such a heart to heart…but he was here…and there was nothing to stop her from spilling everything out…so…what else could she do?
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Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 8:24 pm
Malus didn’t seem to have a lot of confidence in himself but he managed to look up at her with a slightly more reassured smile. He kept his fingers laced with hers, as much to give her comfort as it was to give himself some.
Even if the cat was right and he was supposed to be a Senshi, he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to forgive it. Maybe things weren’t turning out as bad as he had expected, but it was hard for him to think that anything good had come from him being a Senshi.
It was so much easier to focus on the bad—on the ‘what-if’s and all his failures and all the dangers and all the things that could go wrong. But…he’d saved people while he was powered up.
And, maybe being powered up had given him the confidence to try and help people even when he was just him. That was when he’d helped Gale before and he doubt showing up as a Senshi would have helped then; he'd made friend with her without any magical powers.
“Is the reason you’re not getting happier…because of those people you don’t want to see?” he asked after a moment; he didn’t want to pry, but she had opened the door and despite whatever doubts he had about himself he knew that if he could help, he wanted to.
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2017 8:59 pm
Kari shrugged slightly. “Maybe...It’s my fault for getting involved with a member of the Negaverse to begin with...but I really think…” She shrugged again, glancing away. “I really think that maybe I was in love with her...I had never felt so...I don’t know. Taken care of? Like, it seemed that she really cared about what I did and what I said...but then I met Themisto...and he was so goofy and nice and he said that he wanted to date me...and I knew that was the right thing to do, because you know. We’re on the same side of things so it was safer so I said yes, and for a while things were okay…”
She drew in a breath, pulling her hand away from Malus and digging the heels of her hands into her eyes.
“But then there was the whole issue with Epidote...he was her partner, Stellerite’s partner...she brought him to me to help him learn how to drain energy...I would go out and give mine to her so she wouldn’t take it from someone else...but...but anyway. He drained my energy one day alone and then started talking about my starseed and how he might be able to drain my energy faster from that and I had no idea what he was talking about, so I just said okay and...and he took it out...and I think when his hand was in my chest I realized that I had made a mistake and that something was wrong but...but I couldn’t do anything…”
Trembling slightly, Kari drew in another breath, trying to calm herself down enough to the point where her voice was once again steady, but it was proving to be difficult. “I got scared and stopped showing up for my meetings with Stella...and Epidote got angry and it just got worse and worse and he started killing people...and killed two people because he ran into Themisto before running into me and Themisto pissed him off so he decided to make me pay for it because he thought I had sent Themi to attack him...but I hadn’t. I really hadn’t...I didn’t even know they knew one another!”
There were tears spilling from her eyes now and her words were getting harder to understand as the sobs began to take over. “That’s when my depression started getting bad. I was having so many nightmares because of Epidote...and Themisto came over to my house...powered up. And I just...I got so scared and he didn’t bother...It was just bad...It was just so...so bad. Everything’s been bad…”
She hiccuped and tried to look up at her friend, tried to at least seem braver than she felt. “I...I’m sorry for unloading like that...but now that I know...know that you’re a senshi...you get the whole story, I guess…”
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Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2017 11:04 am
When Kari stopped talking, Malus’ lips were pursed and his brows were knit; he had a bit of moisture in his eyes and he tried to force a smile to reassure her. Emotions were contagious and he barely had his under control; he empathized greatly with her and he couldn’t help put him himself in her shoes.
“You don’t have to apologize,” he insisted. “You sound like you’ve been bottling that up for a long time, I’m happy I was here so you could let it out. Thank you for trust me with it.”
He reached out as if he intended to take her hand and then gave up on that and embraced her, instead.
“I hope this isn’t too forward, you just really seemed like you needed a hug. And if you don’t like hugs, I won’t do it again, but I know how hard it can be when everything feels like it’s crumbling and you don’t know what to do or who to talk to or anything. I don’t blame you for what happened, it’s not your fault.”
He swallowed and didn’t want there to be some awkward silence, so he just kept talking. “It’s scary when someone takes out your starseed, it can really mess you up. You were right to be worried, it’s really dangerous, too. He shouldn’t have done that, and he shouldn’t have been mad at you. But the Negaverse makes people act crazy and do crazy things—they lose themselves, and there’s nothing you can do about it if they don’t want help.”
He hadn’t seemed to had any issue understanding what she said; he had been paying careful attention to her words and not even her sobs had been enough to distract him.
“If you’re ever scared, you can call me, or come over. You’re my friend and I don’t want anything bad to happen to you, so I’ll do whatever I can to keep you safe. I’m sorry you had to go through all of that—go through all of that alone, too—but you won’t have to, ever again. When we get out of here, we can talk about everything, and maybe we can work out some plans to try and get you back on your feet?”
He seemed worried about her and still held her, as if he were afraid that by letting her go he was going to be letting her down. “Maybe we can figure out some things so you don’t feel so afraid? We can make things better, I promise. With depression, with fear, with loneliness—I’ll be here for you for all of them. And you’ll be okay, Kari. Gale. You’ll be safe, and happy, and I won’t ever let you be alone when you don’t want to be.”
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Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2017 11:04 am
With the arms around her, Kari felt as though she was able to relax, at least a little bit and the sobs slowed. She didn’t say anything until the last of them had passed, and then she only was able to really mutter a soft, “Thank you.”
She returned the hug and just held on, burying her face against his chest, finally allowing her breathing to return to normal and after a while of just…silence…she did start to feel better. At least a little better. Finally she pulled away, rubbing at her face. “Thank you, Evan…I’m really…really glad that we met…I…”
Swallowing, Kari shrugged. “I’m just really glad that we met. Things might have been…really different for me if we hadn’t and…”
…And that cracking sound that suddenly filled the room caused her to scramble back from Evan, looking rather terrified. Of course something loud and awful like that had to happen just when she was starting to feel a little better.
“Wh-what was that…?”
And then the floor crumbled away.
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