Busy holiday shoppers crowded the streets late one evening. Sinope sat in a towering tree as he watched his pair of summoned mirror wraiths flit among them, encouraging the people to return home to bed through the slow sapping of their energy. He briefly wondered if he dared sneak down to try to steal some dinner from one of the restaurant kitchens or street vendors, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so. Everyone seemed too cheerful and he couldn’t bear to infect them with his misery.
His ribs no longer hurt or hindered him as much as they used to and he took that to mean they were well on their way to healing. However, the worst pain crippling him wasn’t physical. Homesickness took its time in hunting down the freedom-loving redhead, but it was on Thanksgiving that the longing finally hit him full force. He was on his own, now. If there would ever come a day when he could return to his parents, it wasn’t in the foreseeable future. He might as well have lacked a civilian existence now that he had fled from his family.
At the very least, though, he still had his life as a senshi. Was it enough? What meaning was there in it? Not even his court had a real objective. He may have had the freedom to do what he wanted, but what was that, exactly? Not skulking and freeloading in the Yorke’s boat for the rest of his life. There was his vow to protect Elex in order to protect himself and there were the errands that the Negaverse captain sent him on, but Sinope performed those tasks mindlessly. Elex didn’t seem to need protection and the senshi didn’t find the errands any more invigorating than collecting energy for his court.
In the stories he had read, the tricksters he looked up to had rarely seemed troubled by loneliness or lack of purpose. This was peculiar to Sinope since they also didn’t seem to have a great deal of friends or family; they simply did as they wished, seemingly unconcerned with whether they helped or harmed others. Perhaps that was why they were often side characters who were mysterious in motives and morals. Such mysteries made it difficult for him to emulate them, however, and Sinope just found himself lost. He didn’t know what he wanted or who he wanted to be anymore.
Energy sensing was becoming easier, a more readily available skill to him and Alrakis was finding it to be something of utmost usefulness. The ability to feel another powered entity's signature and general location was great for either avoiding or attempting to make contact. Tonight though, it proved to be a bit on the more difficult side.
People, shoppers and those out enjoying festivities, were bunched up in the streets. Watch person flitting from one location to another like hungry honey bees. Each shop or location a special flower to receive their nectar from. It was almost mesmerizing to watch, especially considering Rowan tended to be one of those people. Such a curious thing to witness. But no, what he was looking for, who he was looking for, was muddled up amongst the other people. He had a general idea and then…What were those?
Two figures with signatures he was unaccustom to sensing were weaving amongst the groups of people and pulling, what Alrakis could only assume was energy. They weren’t youma though. Not any youma he’d ever seen before (not that he had much experience with youma yet). They seemed to focus around a specific area, weaving around a radius of sort. They helped pinpoint his target who, upon closer inspection of a tree with the brown remains of leaves clinging to it, was sitting high above the milling people watching with very little interest. The signature, though dark and chaotic was different from what he felt before. Not a corrupt or an agent, not that that would bother him much at this point, but now he was terribly curious.
Leaping from rooftop to rooftop, the senshi maneuvered himself to a building in which he could launch himself fro and land with relative ease and grace upon a strong, slightly lower bough, to the other person. Now, with a clearer view of who it was, Alrakis nearly laughed in amusement. Sinope. That senshi I met before, but obviously not a white moon senshi. Curious.
“You look rather bored and put out.” He remarked as he leaned against the trunk of the tree. Feet were placed in the crook of where bough and tree met where he knew it to be strongest. “You don’t seem at all perturbed by those creatures down there.” He tilted his head towards the wraiths that continued to feed upon individuals. “Do you have something to do with them or are you uninterested in doing anything with them?”
The younger sailor scout started and glanced about when the tree in which he perched shuddered slightly with the sudden weight of a new burden. When his gaze alighted upon the handsome young man garbed in the bright hues and cloaked in the Order energy of a White Moon Senshi, he was reminded strongly of Alya. The gradient-haired visitor spoke, reclining carefreely against the tree’s bole, and his observations caused Sinope to smile in spite of himself.
“I summoned them,” he admitted, fishing out one of his mirror shards with the least amount of effort necessary. It caught the light as he flourished it at the pretty boy. “They collect energy for my court. But what about you?” the redhead countered. “You don’t seem at all perturbed by a senshi with a chaotic signature. Why might that be?”
Hazel eyes glittered with interest as they appraised the elegant figure. He may not have approved of attachments, but what was a casual conversation between two strangers? Perhaps it could have resulted in their mutual benefit if the other senshi sought information. It certainly beat brooding on things he couldn’t change and sinking deeper into the quicksand of self-pity.
Well, at least it seemed he was as friendly with other senshi as he was with civilians.
“You summoned them?” Now that was an unexpected answer. Perhaps Sinope had more interesting points about him than Alrakis had originally thought. Stalking people from shadows apparently wasn’t this young man’s only talent. “Your court?” He questioned innocently as eyes flit from the mirror shard that was so swiftly procured to the wraiths working down below. Did Sinope have a connection with the negaverse? Was that why he collected energy with these wraiths of his, or was it just solely for this court in question?
A shoulder shrug, almost lazy in nature was his response to the question sent his way. Eyes lifted back to the other senshi. “Curious really. I am in search of some answers about this whole war situation and take my chances meeting new people. You seemed bored enough that a conversation may be more interesting than a fight. Especially considering the amount of people that are here, a fight wouldn’t necessarily be in either of our best interests.”
“So, I have to ask, what are you? A senshi I am assuming but not a corrupt. You’re missing the holes, and those things down there don’t look like any sort of youma’s I’ve encountered before.” He held out a hand then in gesture. “Assuming that I am right and you are bored enough to hold a civil conversation?”
”The Dark Mirror Court,” Sinope explained, recognizing the other scout’s aura and outfit as that of a basic senshi. “Haven’t heard of us, I take it.” He had known other White Moon Court members who had been around longer and not been aware of his faction, but this fellow seemed pretty new in general. It stood to reason that the super senshi probably wouldn’t be able to ask for much information in return for whatever he was willing to divulge unless it was personal. Well, he supposed any information was better than none. This guy might have been intriguing in his own right if he was going around talking to whomever without fear of being attacked, captured, or worse.
Upon hearing the older male’s response, the younger laughed aloud. “You do know that some of those new people would no sooner look at you than try to kill or corrupt you, right?” he asked, a sardonic smirk smearing his lips. “By usual logic, I figure that boredom would spur someone into action instead of talk.” Checking back on his wraiths, he added, “As for the amount of people, I had a Negaverse agent once tell me that causing a scene instigates more panic and adrenaline rushes, which means more energy to collect, so an audience of innocent bystanders actually can be in one’s best interest.” Sinope returned his focus to his conversation partner. “Lucky for you, neither of those apply to me, but it might be something to keep in mind for the future.”
He hooked the back of his knees around his branch and fell backward until he swung upside down like an overlarge, overripe piece of fruit. Once he steadied himself, he grinned at the other senshi while mentally reviewing the questions that had been asked of him. “That depends. ‘Civil’ is a subjective term, but I’ll do my best.
“How about we make a deal? For every question I answer of yours, you answer one for me. We don’t have to count what I’ve replied to so far, but before we go any further, I’ve got one of my own.” Sinope tilted his head inquiringly with an impish smile. “Who are you?”
The Dark Mirror Court? Interesting name. “No. No I haven’t, he said truthfully.
At the mention of hurting or corrupting him Alrakis’s hand absently rubbed at the center of his chest. Underneath sat the most precious part of him. The glistening stone, a gem, that held his soul. That same gem had been greeted by the night air once and he hadn’t forgotten what it had felt like. In some strange way though he found flirting with danger enticing. Interesting. Something he didn’t fear but enjoyed even despite the possible consequences. Besides, he’d yet to determine who the real bad guys in this war was.
“Hm. Perhaps you’re right.” He conceded with a shrug as he adjusted his stance a bit, better perching his feet so they no longer slipped on frost dampened bark. “But, as you said, lucky for me you aren’t that type.”
As the mirror senshi adjusted his stance and swung downwards like a small bat clinging to the roof of its cave. The hood of Sinope’s fuku dangled below his head, showing off the mass of red hair that Alrakis had known was underneath it. There was a mischievous glint in the red-heads eyes and alrakis couldn’t help but return Sinope’s grin with one of his own. “That sounds fair enough. One question answered for another.” Just means I’ll need to be more careful with what I ask and how I answer.
“Ah, Yes. Introductions. How rude of me. I am Alrakis, senshi of Ryuto.” He paused a moment, was going to elaborate on his sphere but thought better of it. If Sinope was curious enough to know he’d ask and it would be answer easy trade of information.
“So. The Dark Mirror Court.” He paused as he mulled the question over in his mind. It needed to be formed just right to get as much information out of him as possible in one go. “You’re obviously chaotic and I am going to assume associated with the Negaverse in some way or another. What I don’t know is the purpose of your court. What your claim in this war is.”
The older senshi’s gesture did not go unnoticed and Sinope wondered what memories or thoughts his words might have triggered. Had he, too, had his starseed grabbed before? Had he been told how corruptions were performed to have associated it with the soul given solid form in his chest? Perhaps he knew more than the hazel-eyed teen had originally guessed.
Gravity summoned his blood, surging, to his head as he dangled there. He tucked his shirt into his three-quarter pants to avoid his stomach’s exposure to the frigid air, but with practically no sleeves and a good deal of his skin bare, he was quickly regretting his actions. Perhaps he could bring along a jacket or blanket of some sort the next time he went out if he could find something. In the meantime, he settled for pulling himself back up onto the bough and curling into a small ball, huddling close to the tree’s trunk as his companion was.
“Pleasure to meet you, Alrakis,” he answered, rubbing his gloved hands along his uncovered arms and exhaling heat into them. He wasn’t familiar with the named sphere, but he figured he could always try to look it up later. As long as they weren’t about to use their magic on one another, he doubted it would have pertained all that much to his interests just then.
The Dark Mirror Senshi grinned more broadly than ever when his fellow sailor scout continued. He liked this guy; oh yes, he liked him a lot. Particularly the way he thought. “If I’m right about what I think you’re doing, then I admire your cunning,” Sinope chuckled, “but without asking me an actual question, you’re free to make all the assumptions you like.” If Alrakis wanted to play, two could play at that game. It had been a while since the super senshi had anyone new to match wits with and though he was careful to keep his composure in check for the most part, he was inwardly thrilled.
It seemed Sinope wasn’t going to be as easy to make fumble when he wasn’t confronted with a nearly naked man. Fair enough. If nothing else, Alrakis would get a feel for how the DMC senshi was when not flustered. It really hadn’t been a fair thing to do to the other teen, but then again, Sinope had snuck into the dressing room at the theatre. What did the DMS expect to find there?
“I see you’re not going to be easy to trip up.” Grinning, Rowan crossed his arms over his chest, tucking his hands into his wide-mouthed sleeves. “Make for better conversation this way. Now, as much as I’d love to know your name, right now I feel like it’s a waste of a question. So, for the time being, you’ll be ‘that Dark Mirror senshi’. I hope that suits your fancy.” Tapping a forearm idly under his sleeve Rowan contemplated his first actual question.
“So, Dark Mirror senshi, what are your thoughts on the war?” A rather...open question. Alrakis wanted to allow Sinope to answer as much or as little as he wanted for the first round. It would give him a chance to see just how much information he’d freely get out of the darkly dressed senshi. If nothing else, the answer would give Alrakis something to springboard off of since he knew very little about Sinope or this court of his.
”You better believe it,” the super senshi laughed. “I may not be all that strong or skilled at fighting, but if there’s one thing I know, it’s wordplay. Sounds like you know enough to wield it pretty craftily yourself, though. So regarding better conversation, I completely agree.”
There was someone this person reminded Sinope of and it was beginning to bother him. So while he might not have usually been stingy with his name, he decided to keep it to himself for now, especially because he hadn’t been asked. If the other senshi happened to slip up, perhaps he might have been able to confirm his suspicions in one aspect or another.
The redhead exhaled a cloud of hot air with a smile. “My thoughts?" he repeated. "If we're talking about me personally, I think of the war as a cosmic play - a show best enjoyed as a spectator. There's such a huge burden of work and stress involved if you dedicate yourself to it, taking up most of one's short time on this Earth, and for what? To win? It sounds like it existed far before any of us were born and it's likely it'll continue beyond our lifetimes, so what's the point in taking it seriously and participating beyond what's fun?”
His smile faded slightly as he glanced back at the holiday shoppers milling about on the sidewalks and streets. Families and friends warmed themselves in close proximity of each other. "Those were all rhetorical questions, by the way, so don't bother answering them. My actual next one for you is this: what are your opinions of each faction you know?”
Hm. So he’s not a fighter. I sort of figured that out before but he just bluntly confirmed it for me. Now I know he’s not hiding some sort of special fighting talents on me unless he’d just very, very good at lying. And, this time, I don’t think he is. Free information was always a bonus and the things that Alrakis listened with intent for. The stuff unknowingly given tended to be the most useful.
A shiver ran down Alrakis’s spine. Standing still, especially at a higher loft than street level, meant it felt colder. Not only was his body not moving to generate its own heat, the winds found it just a bit easier to hit them. The tree and it’s branches created very little, to no shelter for the two teens. Thankfully, Alrakis’s fuku had a bit more sustenance to it than Sinopes. “So, make the most out of a situation even if innocent people are being hurt? Sounds a bit malicious, perhaps even a bit cold hearted but I suppose I can’t fault you for it. It’s not like this war is something any of us asked to be a part of.”
“And, ignore my own rhetorical question.” He winked.
“As for my own opinions. Well, I have none on your court, if they are considered a faction of their own. The White Moon from what I’ve seen have fairly good intentions but lack any sort of organization or ability to work together. The cats go around awakening other senshi and, for the most part, leave them to their own devices to figure things out.” A shrug. “I can’t say it’s the best method of making sure new recruits are trained enough to not die. They claim to be the good guys in this but I feel as if they are just as much at fault for some of the injuries that occur to civilians.”
He shifted his stance on the tree, Altering one foot for the other to relieve the tingling sensation of disuse from the one he’d had his weight on. In the process he wrapped his arms around himself just a bit tighter, his hands still well hidden within his sleeves. “The Negaverse…” He paused as he collected his thoughts. “They’ve been the most aggressive, but also fairly forthcoming with information. In a way, it feels like I’ve learned more from them about being a senshi in this crazy encounter. They take what they need and don’t bother asking questions if it’s not in their interest. It’s not necessarily a practice I condone.”
“As a whole, you could say I am fairly neutral with both factions. Both have their downfalls and their perks. I want to learn more before I can really solidify any other feelings I have one way or the other.” A tilt of a head and a brow rose. “Sorry if you wanted more, but that’s all I’ve got for you right now.”
“So, seeing I am curious about your thoughts on each faction as well, I’d like to throw the same question at you.” Here was a chance for Rowan to get information about the other’s court as well without needing to specifically ask.
Watching the lighter-colored sailor scout tremble with cold, Sinope slowly lowered himself onto a branch beneath the one he had curled up on. "Hey, how about we get down from here and head somewhere warmer? At least on the ground, there are other people to give off body heat. If we just get lost in the crowds, we can can keep moving, too."
As he climbed down from branch to branch, he seemed unruffled by Alrakis' accusation. "No one is innocent," he replied evenly. "Even if that's debatable, there's always the chance that some bystanding civilian knows more than what they let on. Survival of the fittest and every person for themselves makes the most sense to me. It may be considered cold-hearted and selfish, but it'd be impractical and illogical to do otherwise."
The wink he recieved caused Sinope to smile involuntarily. "I'm not so sure about that. I'll bet there are at least a few individuals out there who learned about the war from some powered folk and asked to join for whatever reason." Me, for example.
Sinope knew he talked a lot. The trick was knowing what bits of information to 'let slip' and which to keep to himself. He often made a show of being stingy with his info, but he also purposely allowed himself to 'get carried away' in order to encourage people to underestimate him as a threat. That was all it was. Not because he was desperate for a decent conversation every now and then; oh no. That would have suggested he was lonely.
He knodded in acknowledgement of Alrakis' response to his question. It was interesting, hearing about the White Moon Court from the perspective of a fairly new member. He imagined Alrakis hadn't yet been colored with a die-hard bias that he guessed some of the higher level senshi might have had. "Ahhh yes. Those fun dualistic terms of 'good' and 'evil'. Hahaha...what a joke." He gestured toward the other male. "At least you seem to have the sense not to buy into that so easily."
Upon hearing about the Negaverse being forthcoming with information, Sinope's brows shot up. "Yeah?" His eyes gleamed beneath the shadow of his hood. They reflected the seasonal, shop, and street lights that seemed to brighten as the darkness of surrounding night deepened. "I haven't talked to too many, but definitely sounds like the sort of people I could relate to. Maybe that's why we're both chaos factions. I'm surprised you tried to talk with them."
Once he had both feet on the ground again, he shook his head at his companion's apology. "That's just enough. Hehehe...how tepid. Man. I feel like you would have made a great Dark Mirror Senshi." It was his turn to shrug. "But who knows; maybe your opinion will be swayed yet."
The redhead crossed his arms over his chest as he smirked at the senshi of ryuto. "Alright, but you might be the one disappointed since my thoughts are pretty similar to yours. White Moon seem to think they're 'good' just because they're 'Order', even though the chaotic Negaverse seems to be more organized than they are. That's with the exception of the Blood Moon Court, from what I hear, but that's a whole other can of worms." He waved a hand dismissively.
"Honestly, I've met more White Moon Senshi than anyone else, but the Negaverse officers I've met don't seem much different to me aside from maybe being a bit more disciplined."
He brushed his gloved hand across a small drift of snow that had accumulated atop a metal mailbox. "So - what have your Negaverse encounters been like?" Did they hurt you? How'd you ask them questions if they saw you as the enemy? Why would they give information to the enemy? How come they let you live? Hundreds of other questions bubbled up from within, but he knew Alrakis wasn't likely to answer them all. If only he had been there to spectate the interaction.
The prospect of moving out of the tree and down to ground level gained no contest from the white moon senshi. He followed Sinope down easily enough, taking a similar trail so as not to pull too much attention with a large sudden movement. When his boots finally hit the ground the lack of wind was welcomed. The amount of bodies around them helped and not too many people seemed to pay them much notice in their fukus. It felt....odd being in such public display as a senshi. Alrakis had always kept to the shadows or rooftops when powered up. Sinope, on the other hand, didn’t seem at all perturbed.
“Surprised because I am White Moon?” He paused a moment. “Ignore that question. The obvious answer is yes. Interesting though that you are both chaotic factions. It’s not odd at all if you look at it from my point of view. I get awakened and ditched. I chat with whoever I run into if they’re willing to try and learn about what I was thrust into. I’ve not been picky considering I barely knew the difference between the factions when I began.” The tiniest tidbit more of information and not an ounce all that useful.
Speaking of tidbits of info. “I don’t know if your answer deserves me answering your next question.” He raised a brow at Sinope before sighing. “I’ll give you a pass I suppose.”
Alrakis began to move with the flow of the foot traffic. Keeping to the outside of the crowds, Alrakis was able to take a slower pace without worry of being bumped and jostled while he chatted with Sinope. “They have been toss ups. Some attack on sight of my white fuku while others are more willing to converse and learn like we are doing right now. I can’t fault those who attack as I am sure they’ve been conditioned to do so since I know there are White mooners who do the same.”
Taking easy strides, Rowan didn’t bother to look at Sinope as he chatted. Instead he kept his gaze forward to make sure he didn’t run into anyone or anything. “Do you have any inside information about the Negaverse since you are both chaotic fashions or is your court after something of its own intentions that doesn’t have much to do with the Negaverse? You’re obviously not corrupt.”
kitomyx
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