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 Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 12:54 pm
After the last encounter with that Mars knight, Bellite was feeling just a little gun shy, though not that she, a thirty year old independent woman would ever admit to being a little hesitant about crossing the line and talking to another faction…but this was a war. She couldn’t let herself forget that…even if she did have a picnic coming up.
It had been easy to pack for it, she had even gone out and bought a basket just for the occasion, filling it with some fried chicken from the market, and some juice and bread and some of the fancy Jersey Cow chocolate milk that she had discovered by accident a few months back…
She had impulsively bought some cookies as well and tucked everything under a lovely Christmas-y table cloth that had been super cheap, and then set out for the meeting spot she had agreed upon with Cordoba, feeling…a little afraid. But trying very hard not to show it.
At least Bellite could say that she had done her part…if Cordoba showed up too, well, that would be wonderful…if not…she had at the very least tried.
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Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 4:47 pm
The day had been busy. Between planning, collecting a proper Christmas picnic blanket, and cooking picnic foods, Cordoba had been busyt. She hadn't taken anyone to her Wonder in a long time, and this was a first for Bellite- the first Negaverse agent to visit, the first picnic, the first so much that she even packed a small CD player and CDs to make it nice (and maybe Bellite would enjoy seeing how sound was affected by the crystalline buildings with her). Today was Good and staying good -- well enough she didn't even pick a Reaper in case she needed the burn. No, Sriracha fried wings might be enough, so when she approached Bellite at the meeting place, it was with a smile... Before she began giggling. "Hey!" Cordoba cheered, waving. "I see we both wanted to make sure we had enough to eat!"
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Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 5:30 pm
Bellite grinned when Cordoba approached, then blinked at her words, before laughing as she saw that the page had a basket that was seemingly full of food as well. “I didn’t realize that you’d be bringing dinner too—I thought you were just providing the atmosphere and I was going to cover dinner.”
It made her feel good though, the fact that the knight had gone out of her way to bee so…so seemingly thoughtful…it was like they were both really working to be friends…and that was good. So far this encounter was pushing the fears which had been raised by her last fight, as far away as possible…and she needed that.
“So…how do we do this? How do we get to…to space…will we be able to breathe? Is it dark up there? I’m very excited.”
The questions came out in a rush, and the lieutenant felt her cheeks growing just a little warm. “I’m sorry. I suppose I’m just…really excited. I’ve been looking forward to this since we met, and I’m so happy that the time is finally here.”
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Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 5:37 pm
"I tried not to make it too spicy." Cordoba beamed, winking. "I wanted to make sure you had food. I guess we'll just have a lot of food. That's fine." The page bowed, and took the lieutenant's hand. "Ido the hard part, just... Ithink we teleport? I'm not sure? But we can breathe. There's some light, so we can see. There's also a ghost, but she's... Eh. Part of my wonder or something. I'm not sure." Cordoba shrugged, and shut her eyes, letting herself make the preperations before the pair were teleported. Really, for Cordoba, it was almost instinct -- and sounded more like soft murmuring than anythjing. Once arriving, the grandoise city came into light. At some visit, Cordoba had worked out minor lighting, the wonder a low bluish glow. While it seemed to merely be a geode glowing from within, inspection showed it a city proper, the page leading Bellite for a wide intersection, passing abandoned vehicles not unlike TRON. "Welcome to Cordoba~" The page cheered, and bowed. "Sorryit's so still, just.... Not much here."
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Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 6:57 pm
It didn’t take long at all. One moment they were in the park and…
And she was holding hands with the page…
And the next they were no longer in the park…they were somewhere beautiful. Amazing. It was like nothing she had ever seen before and…and honestly Bellite didn’t know what to say, though she gripped the hand tightly as though it was an anchor to reality.
The more that they walked, and the more that Cordoba’s words finally made their way into the part of her mind that understood things, and finally after quite a while of stunned silence, mouth gaping like a fish, the lieutenant frowned. “…Wait. You have a ghost? What?”
Perhaps she hadn’t heard correctly after all…how could there be a ghost in such an amazing place? But…it was empty…and perhaps in that emptiness it was a little creepy…like an abandoned theme park or something of that nature…it was almost a little lonely.
“It’s beautiful, Cordoba…I mean…the city…this place. So…let me just…you’re named for this? That’s interesting…”
It was all interesting and she wished she had brought her camera…and a note pad to take notes…she would have to try to remember everything for later…perhaps she could…
Well. That wasn’t a thought for now. Now she was going to have a picnic…and have a really good day. In space.
She was in space.
“This is so cool!”
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Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 7:23 pm
"I've been cleaning it." Cordoba motioned, smiling. "Xifeng can't hurt you. She's just... Unpredictable." Cordoba then nodded. "I'm named after this place, yeah." The page shrugged, and motioned, pulling her blanket out to set it up. "I can't move broken towers, but I tried cleaning. It's hard without a crane to reach higher places and a lot of things are broken. Xifeng says this place was bright once, like a beacon."
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Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 7:49 pm
Nodding, Bellite began spreading her own table cloth out on the ground, another few questions springing up in her mind. Xifeng must be the name of the…ghost? That seemed as though it must be the answer…how strange. She didn’t really believe in ghosts but…she wanted to believe Cordoba.
Slowly she began unpacking the contents of her picnic basket, spreading the food out and busying herself for a moment, making sure everything looked good and nothing had spilled. “…It was bright? It must have been beautiful…I mean, I can see how…it’s still beautiful, but if it was all lit up…it must have been a pretty special place.”
Pouring a glass of the chocolate milk she held it out to the page. “Here. Try this, it’s the best milk I’ve ever tried before, I..I thought it would be a good treat for today so I splurged.”
Her eyes were on the page, but they kept straying around to the towers and everything else. “…do you think it will ever become a beacon again? That would be kind of amazing, I think…I’d love to see it, if it does.”
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Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 8:00 pm
Cordoba was patiently setting out food, fried spicy shrimp, chicken, even a small chocolate cake -- and then she hummed, taking the milk and sipping it. The milk was refreshingly gold, just the kind of sweet she could stand, and she hummed. "Ihope so. I'm trying to restore it as best I can, but I'm only doing things so Xifeng will actually pi[teach something besides alien electricity." She sighed, shrugging and motioning. "But who knows, ity's old."
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Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2017 11:12 am
“So…the ghost teaches you things?” The question was blurted out before Bellite could stop herself. She promptly picked up something from the wide selection of food and put it into her mouth before she could say something else that was stupid. She hoped that Cordoba didn’t find the question as insulting as it sounded to her own ears…it almost sounded like she didn’t believe that there even was a ghost…which wasn’t the case…
…this was all just so new.
Swallowing the piece of shrimp, Bellite gave a little grin, reaching for a bottle of water. “That shrimp is really good, I’m happy we brought so much food, we sure won’t be going hungry, will we?”
Did that sound stupid too? Why wasn’t she talking like she normally did? What on earth…or on Mercury was getting her so nervous?
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Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2017 4:10 pm
"Do you like it?I made it myself." Cordobna noted a bit, shyly. The page grinned, rubbing the back of her neck shyly, before motioning. "I think Xifeng is SUPPOSED to, but... One track mind..." Cordoba sighed, and grabbed a peice of chicken, nibbling thoughtfully before motion caught the corner of her eye, and she blinked as her ancestor chose that moment to appear, stop, and STARE at Bellite before almost sscreaming. "Really? REALLY?!" "Oh man up Xifeng. Bellite's a friend of mine. " Xifeng stared, before groaning, mumbling in Chinese, and Cordoba motioned. "Bellite, Xifeng. Killjoy, Bellite."
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Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 10:35 am
The lieutenant had opened her mouth to say that she did indeed like the shrimp, when the sudden appearance of another person…of…of the ghost made her eyes nearly pop right out of her head. Of all the things she had expected to happen today…actually meeting the ghost or whatever of this place had not even begun to make the list…but here she was…
How interesting.
Why didn’t she have something to write on? This would be such good information…
Swallowing hard, Bellite reached out a hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Xifeng. As Cordoba has said, my name is Bellite…it’s…it’s beautiful here, thank you very much for allowing me to visit.” She inclined her head just slightly, wondering if the apparition would be able to actually shake hands…or if she would even know what the gesture meant.
“If you’re not comfortable with me being here, I could leave…but I…I would much rather stay…” Her eyes strayed to Cordoba and she offered a warm smile, feeling more fondness for the page than she was comfortable admitting.
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Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2017 1:21 pm
Cordoba wanted to beg Bellite not to leave, but Xifeng took her hjand, or make it look like her did and bowed. Oh, my, how politethis one was. So well mannered for... Chjaos.... "It is well, but ah, if you had seen the city in her hey day." Cifeng sounded wistful. "But my ungratefuil descendant tries. It is surprising to see one of chaos so kind. So rarte! It's hope, truly. One cannot exist without the other, after all." Cordoba sighed, munching her chicken. Yin and Yang -- yes, sher knew the principle, but to see her ancestor believed it, from a time it was more weighty was interesting, instead leaning against Bellite slightly. "So we can't see anything yet of visuals huh?" Cordoba decided to keep the topic going -- ply at Xifeng's pride. It worked. "Ah! If only I could show.... Only the lights work. Sort of."
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Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 8:11 am
Bellite felt a thrill of surprise and glee when it seemed like the ghost…dare she say…approved of her? She gave a very warm smile, but felt another thrill of…something as she felt the knight leaning against her. Without prompting, her arm was around Cordoba just slightly, fingers reaching up to play with the silky black locks that reached so far down her back.
“Well…maybe one day, Xifeng. Maybe with enough love and attention you’ll get everything going again…nothing is impossible, right?”
As she said these words, she felt a sudden…strange feeling that she couldn’t quite put a finger on…some sort of mix between anger and jealousy…along with a slight…smugness.
It confused Bellite for a moment and she placed her head on Cordoba’s shoulder, letting her own colorful hair obscure her face, sure that something of what she was feeling would show…because at that moment she realized that she would rather bring Cordoba into the darkness…than ever allow this light to shine once again. It was a startling realization…but one that she couldn’t question even in the slightest.
“I know that Cordoba is doing her best…and I could always come back and help her, you’re the most knowledgeable on the subject, so I know if anyone could help us make this place a beacon again…it’s you.”
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Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 3:54 pm
"And she's terrible at the wiring." Xifeng pouted, Cordoba rubbing Bellite's side. Well, this was nice! "I work with electronics, not ancient machiunery, I told you this." Cordoba sighed, looking to Bellite. "See, fussy. She means well, but she's so fussy."
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Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2017 11:10 am
Bellite grinned softly. “If she’s bad at the wiring, then we’ll just have to learn it, right? I’ll see if I can find any books on ancient machinery, and you can help us figure it all out, Xifeng. We’ll make this place wonderful, I know we will.
Her hand trailed down Cordoba’s back and lingered for a moment. “Should we eat now, Cor? I think we should, the food all looks so fantastic…and I’m more than ready to dig in.”
Now that she had a plan…she almost hoped that Xifeng would leave…at any rate…if she was going to start working towards bringing Cordoba into the Negaverse…perhaps it would be a good idea to continue their meetings…away from this place. Away from the sharp eyes of this…ghost. Even if Xifeng did seem to have a good opinion of her so far…she was sure that would change if she started her new friend on the path towards corruption.
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