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Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2017 8:28 pm
Scylla had made mention of him - an alien who lived in the woods outside Destiny City. Hidden from the eyes of Chaos, he crept in the darkened places, away from agents, away from youma. How he kept himself cloaked from magical perception, she did not know. Scylla explained he was a master of crystals and a language foreign to all Earthlings. He led the charge into the Negaverse and was their captive for an incredible amount of time.
She did not know what she was looking for, but knew the weather was growing colder by the day. Did he have somewhere to go? Did he have enough food and warm clothing? Surely Earth was a strange and unfamiliar place to him, the one called Caedus. Scylla spoke highly of him, but Kallichore thought perhaps the man simply wished to return home.
Carrying a bag with her, the eternal senshi had brought a peace offering of sorts - dried meats for protein without worry of spoilage, and two heavier blankets for colder weather. The only problem was... she had no idea how to find this Caedus. Her luminescent markings would likely make her more visible to him rather than the other way around. How could she find someone who didn't wish to be found, for the most part? She had many questions... Wandering within the shadows of tall trees was the best she could manage.
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Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2017 9:07 pm
The changing of the seasons was perpetually unpleasant; half of the year was tolerable and half was outright unpleasant. Caedus had managed through both, in a mixture of hardiness and the generosity of those he’d revealed himself to. A Senshi in these woods was either good or bad; it was hard to tell, particularly if he was unfamiliar with the Senshi. A Senshi of her rank warranted caution, but the marks of Transcendence made him curious. While Caedus seemed inclined to stick to the shadows, he ventured just slightly nearer to her. His energy signature was strange and unlike anything else on the planet. Neither distinctly Chaos nor Order, he simply was. His hood was drawn up and concealed much of his face, and though he walked slightly hunched over, curled into himself, it was clear that his full height was impressive. His greeting came from the not-too-distant shadows, as he slowly weaved between two large trees. In a metallic, slightly gravelly voice, he asked, “What brings you to this corner of the city so late? You do not look like you are lost.” He did not recognize her, but he was still willing to take a chance. Especially because he found himself with questions of his own.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 7:08 pm
The Space Cauldron /was working on lots of other growth reqs hurr hurr whoops He was stealthy, a master of the forest. Scylla had said as much, that one could seek Caedus but would not see the man unless he wished to be found. Once the strange and unfamiliar voice reached her ears, she turned slowly to face its origin. She was not afraid, but thought that, perhaps, moving slowly would make her appear less threatening (if she appeared threatening at all! Scylla had explained quite a bit about him, but Kallichore still had her curiosity.) "I came to find the man called Caedus. Scylla speaks very highly of him. I brought some meat and supplies for him. I mean no harm." Her markings glowed in stark contrast to the dark forest surrounding them, something she found oddly comforting. It was as though her moon was watching through her, through the eyes etched on her skin. "Scylla tells me Caedus has a long history, and I consider myself a... voracious consumer of knowledge. She is learning bits of his language. He is a very good man, she said to me." It wasn't brown-nosing, but without anything else to act as identification, tipping her hand and displaying the knowledge she had of Caedus through Scylla was about the best she could do.
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 10:47 pm
Caedus’ glowing, golden eyes flashed with recognition when he mentioned Scylla’s name. Immediately, his posture seemed to relax, even if only slightly. The cloak hid much of him, but the signs were there if only someone looked. His shoulders were no longer so squared, and while he appeared perpetually hunched, it seemed like he managed to soften a bit. His eyes were no longer so piercing, and while it was difficult to tell if he could appear welcoming, but he no longer bore the gaze of a predator. “She is too kind,” he mused; his words came with the slightest bit of delay, as if he had to search his mind to summon them. “Her tolerance is exemplary. Your search ends here, though. I know myself to be the only one residing in these woods. But you have the benefit of knowing my name, and I do not know yours. If you seek information, I will share what I can. Your markings,” he paused for a second, eyes clearly on her glowing marks. He kept a bit of a distance, almost as if he intended to shy away from their illumination. “They are beautiful. If it is not too forward of me to say. I am still not accustomed to the modern ways of Earth. May I ask for your name, and how you acquired them?”
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Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 7:46 pm
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Caedus." With a bow of her head, Kallichore hoped the gesture would come to mean respect towards Caedus, though his people likely had differing ways of showing such a thing. "My name is Kallichore, and thank you for the compliment. Most don't find them very beautiful, but... I find great comfort in them." With his demeanor more relaxed, the senshi relaxed hers as well, breathing out and taking in the scent of the forest. It must be cold out here, without shelter and only a cloak to provide him warmth. But Scylla did say he was from elsewhere, and Caedus himself confirmed that - Earth was not his home. The man must've been homesick in at least some capacity. Gesturing to the myriad of eyes that glowed upon her skin, Kallichore attempted to simplify the answer to their acquisition. "I... was lost, for a very long time. I prayed and asked the Cosmos for guidance. When I awoke, these markings had appeared. I like to think my moon gave them to me, but I do not know if that is the case for certain. I hope they don't bother you? I'm afraid I haven't discovered the mechanism to turn them off." Brushing dust idly from her skirts, Kallichore continued. "Your offer of information is very kind. I hope I can show you proper gratitude. Scylla informed me that you were a captive of the Negaverse. I'm relieved to see that is no longer the case, but... I wasn't present for any of this, I'm afraid. Scylla tells me you are... trapped here? If that's the case, I would like to find a way home for you, if at all possible. I can't imagine you've very comfortable here on Earth. And... if you don't mind me asking, where did you learn English? You're quite adept, if I may say so. Really, I'm quite interested in you, Caedus, but I don't mean to pry too deeply."
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 7:56 am
Caedus did not seem offended by her ‘ prying’; he simply answered as best he could. “I used to have dealings with Earth. It was necessary to know the language. But that was many years ago, and I have found that much has changed. I speak many languages. Or,” he paused, and his voice seemed a little more gravely—heavy with grief, “I used to.” He’d already had enough time to dwell on things. “I am trying to get home,” he assured. “It is nothing against Earth. But I miss my home and my people. And the Negaverse has had too much time to grow. They need to be stopped.” His eyes were distant, lost on some faraway point on the horizon. “I will not rest until they are no longer a threat.”
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2018 6:58 pm
"...I think anyone in your position would feel homesick, Caedus." The problem was... there must have been some kind of mechanism preventing Caedus from returning home. Perhaps he was too weak and exhausted to make the trip? Would he need some kind of machine or spacecraft? Would his people need to be alerted of his absence? That was certainly a possibility, as there was no way to know - without asking - if Caedus was a man important to his people, like a priest or famous scientist. There were too many possibilities. "How would people like us assist you in returning home? Scylla described that you were held prisoner for god-only-knows how long. If you've been living in this forest since then... I imagine you've tried to return home by now. Forgive my ignorance." And the Negaverse has had too much time to grow. They need to be stopped.She couldn't argue there, and wholeheartedly agreed, though the senshi were divided and disorganized. "Caedus," Her voice was calm, though there was a distinct hint of curiosity and more than enough embarrassment. "tell me, do you have any ideas? Scylla mentioned that the attack was a few years ago, and you've been here ever since. I admire that persistence and desire to put a stop to the Negaverse. I wonder if you have some intimate knowledge I could disseminate to ensure that you can rest sooner, rather than later?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 7:10 am
Caedus sighed heavily when Kallichore had finished speaking. There was much on his mind and he debated for a moment where he would rather start. “For a thousand of your years, I had nothing to think of but escape and revenge. There is a fire that burns in me and I am afraid that even freedom does not weaken it.” His hand clenched and unclenched thoughtfully at his side. “What information I have is old, I think. And my memory…” He was quiet for a moment and shook his head. Determined, he did not finish whatever thought path he had wandered upon. Instead, with more caution, he replied to a previous question. “I have earned resentment for my request. To get home, I need energy. I have crystals that collect them. In some ways they are likened to the Negaverse. But I do not have any nefarious deed planned. Crystals are important to me. My kind thrives on them. They are very functionable in my society. But I fear I will be of little help to you against the Negaverse until I am home and recovered.” He seemed tired; he stooped as if he carried a heavy burden, literally, on his back. He clung to the thought, though. Of home. And of revenge.
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 7:26 pm
For her part, the senshi listened intently. In a way, she had been held prisoner by something, and that fire burning in her gut was unlike his. There was no thirst for revenge or urge to decimate the ranks of the Negaverse through violence. Violence, she learned, begat more violence, and the trauma that followed would further entrench those already wrapped in the embrace of Chaos. Despite their philosophical difference, Kallichore could somewhat understand. Being held prisoner against his will, Caedus had little else to do but plot and plan and stew. Who wouldn't? Scylla had mentioned Caedus' crystals, how she donated energy to him weekly in exchange for his company and the ability to rest more comfortably, free from her nightmares. Reaching out to the foreign man, the senshi nodded once. "Scylla told me of these crystals, so I do not worry. If she trusts you, then I do as well. These markings... allow me to give people some of my own energy. I've done this with my brother and with Scylla, so I imagine it would work similarly with you. If you don't mind, that is. Do your crystals discriminate? I don't believe the Negaverse does, but that's neither here nor there. If it means getting a weary traveler home, I'd be delighted." Giving off excess energy seemed to alleviate the strange sensation of cabin fever she experienced every so often. Traveling to her moon once per week and dissipating the excess there seemed to solve the problem if no one was available to receive a donation. Perhaps her contribution would speed up Caedus' ability to go home?
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2018 8:03 pm
Caedus’ eyes were far away for a moment; he had to pull himself away from whatever realm his mind had wandered to. At first, he blinked, and then he seemed to process that she was asking for a crystal. He found himself nodding and sliding his hand beneath his robe to produce one of the bags from his side. From it, he produced a small crystal. On its own it didn’t seem to be anything particularly interesting, but he still held it as if he revered it. The bag was pulled taut and concealed before he held the crystal out to her. “They do not discriminate. I would be honored and grateful for your assistance. If Scylla has spoken of my crystals, I can assume she has informed you of their purpose and how to use them?” he prompted. “They are not painful. But I have been compared to the Negaverse for their use.” He shook his head, as if the idea disgusted him. “But the crystals of my people are designed for willing use. They are meant to help the user. Not to hurt them. Never to hurt. It is no different than tea before bed, or a warm bath to lull you to sleep.” There was something sad, something pining about his words. He missed home, there was no question about it. But, he held up as best he could and stood a little taller when he offered her the crystal. There was a hint of pride hidden behind it; he did not like asking for help—and yet, he was at the mercy of the people of Earth. He needed their assistance if he had any intention of getting home. If he even had a home to get back to.
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Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 3:14 pm
Cradling the crystal in the palm of her hand, Kallichore nodded at Caedus’ explanation. “...Scylla spoke of them like a tea before bed. She mentioned needing your crystals to help her sleep.” Closing her eyes, the senshi concentrated on the crystal. It was warm to the touch, inviting, just as Caedus had explained. The markings on her body were a spiritual balm of sorts, but with their arrival came a drawback - cabin fever of the spatial variety. If Kallichore did not travel to her moon at least once per week, side effects would begin to show. She had to disperse the excess energy in her body lest things become harrowing. Funneling that excess energy into these crystals, for such an important purpose, would benefit them both. Bright blue eyes danced across her skin, infusing Caedus’ crystal with the energy that would have been dispersed into the cosmos not a day later. Surely, the cosmos would understand. Order had to help Caedus get home. Once the process was completed to Kallichore’s satisfaction, she watched the crystal in the palm of her hand for a few seconds before returning it graciously. “I hope this is enough, at least for now. Scylla mentioned visiting you weekly. If it would be of benefit, I can as well. I’m not sure if my energy differs at all from someone without these markings, but…” She paused for a moment, considering. “Energy is energy, I assume. I hope even this little bit is helpful, in some capacity.” Scylla mentioned she wasn’t sure what Caedus ate, if anything, nor where he slept or bathed. Her donation of blankets might help, but the woods couldn’t be terribly comfortable. “Caedus? Is there anything else you might need? To make things more… tenable?”
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2018 11:46 am
Caedus accepted her crystal gratefully; he did not seem to perform any ritual with it, but instead he tucked the charged crystal away and withdrew another, empty one. “Any donation is more than enough,” he assured. “But if you find yourself with more to spare you may keep this on you. I do not know if your energy should differ from any other, but I will know soon enough. Thank you,” he said, and seemed to earnestly mean it. There was a sort of relief in his voice, beneath the strange gruffness. Caedus may have become more comfortable speaking, even if not his natural language, but it seemed the oddity of his voice was not something he’d been able to fully shake. Regardless, of all the things he had to be concerned about, it was too far down on his list to really matter. “I do not need for much,” he assured. “The energy is all I can ask for. I can forage for food if I must. But my body endured only the Rift for long enough that I do not think I shall perish without something to eat. I survived without much.” He did not quite expand on how, but he sounded tired just thinking of it. “I have a softness for Earth Cuisine, though. But even this.” He gestured to the forest around them. “This is preferable to where I was. I do not mind the dirt or trees or animals or weather. Anything is better than the Rift. But I am grateful for what you have brought me so far, and I am grateful that you have kindness enough to offer more.”
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Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2018 4:37 pm
The Space Cauldron I think we can consider this FIN, and assume Kalli would have visited several times since we started this in November, maybe once a week like Scylla does, if that's okay with you. n_n She nodded, unable to fully empathize with being trapped in the Rift for so long, but understood getting by and being appreciative. Still, Caedus was likely homesick, and any comfort that could be provided to him would be worth it. Caedus was a prisoner of war and of Earth, in a way, being unable to leave when it suited him. "I'd like to know what Earth cuisine you have a fondness for, if anything in particular, and I'll bring it the next time I seek you out. If it would be alright with you, I'd like to donate my energy to you rather than disperse it in space. Perhaps it would help you get home that much faster." Or, perhaps not. It was impossible to say. The moon was high in the sky, and the chill of night meant it was getting late. Kallichore bowed her head to the alien visitor. "...I should be going. I try to take care of my neighborhood before bed to make sure everyone in the building is safe. I'll see you next week, if you don't mind. Goodnight, Caedus. I hope Earth can bring you some comfort."
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