‘Lieutenants must make physical contact to drain energy and are unable to fight and drain energy at the same time as the draining process requires some focus.’ ‘All Negaverse agents have an energy-draining quota to reach.’ ‘ As Senshi, they do not have all of the same capabilities as a Negaverse agent.’
The information available on the very strange, crystal computers that the organization kept swam around in the mind like cheddar Goldfish soggifying in a bowl of Raisin Bran. It was hard to focus anyway. Vanth had lucked out that Universities were just getting their semesters started, which meant Greeks rushing, which meant parties everywhere.
She’d successfully walked to and around the part of the park that had wooden pavilions with permanent charcoal grills that were rental-party structures, and found a fratparty filled with hot dogs, coolers of illegal, disguised beer, summer-scanty freshmen and a really awful smell of rank smoke from little wads of paper people passed around. Vanth had lied about her age, said she was from St. Benedictus Prep, and currently sat at the feet and between the thighs of a freshman girl.
Molly, the girl, was pouring Doritos into the hollow of Vanth's fuku-hat like it was a bowl. "You could totally walk around like that fruit hat lady! Chiquita Dorita!"
At least having the girl’s legs comfortably meant that she had excuse for touching and draining. "I could, really, " Vanth leaned slowly left and then right, experimentally.
A few other nearby frats snagged some chips while giggling.
xWhimsical Blue
Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2018 6:19 pm
Anywhere people gathered was a potential target. Years at this had driven that point home over and over again. Gatherings, and dark, lonely places. Both drew Ida when she set out on patrol and her path meandered between the two, following the mental scent of corruption wherever it lead. It was like a sour taste in the back of her throat; the stronger, the more rank, and the easier to follow. Small nips, the little hints only mildly unpleasant, were never as much of a draw as the larger ones, but when the sounds of a party in full title came with it?
Honestly, curiosity pulled her towards it more than anything, the wondering how a Lieutenant planned to take on a whole pack of frat kids and get away unscathed.
The only reason the senshi had been able to pick out the officer from the mob was the way they (she?) dressed. Jeans and t-shirts abounded, mixed with tanks and bikinis and frilly summer dresses. The taupe stood out a bit in the neons and sunnys and brights. Add to that the ridiculous had worn almost like an archaic wimple and the... shoes? If the kid sitting in the center of the excited group was not the officer she felt, Ida would need to reevaluate her abilities as a senshi.
The only problem now... was what to do about it. The position at the center, the focus of attention and obviously accepted, was more clever than she wanted to admit. Everyone was too busy having fun to notice when she'd drifted to the outskirts, circling around and trying to look casual. Hard to do even with her hood pulled down when her outfit was really no better at blending in than the officer's. The wings did her no favors at all, and no one was going to look at the glowing marks on her face and arm and think nothing of it.
Drifting past a swing set that tugged familiarly at her memory, Ida tried to dredge up a way to separate the carp from the piranha in their midst without causing a panic. This park was one she knew well, when she let the surroundings remind her where she had wandered. Her family came here, people she knew. It didn't need a reputation for the 'gang violence' some of the rest of the city had...
Inspiration struck when she remember other picnics in the park, other festivals... like the police force's summer picnic.
It was Orah that sidled into the fringes of the group, swiping a cup that lay abandoned and trying to pretend like she had ever been someone you could find at a party like this. Calculated risk... She kept her back to the object of her interest and joined a group talking and laughing near the edge, a young man with his arm around a girl's shoulders and a couple of friends shoving each other and laughing when their disguised beer sloshed.
"Hey, um..." She said as she leaned in, screwing up her courage and letting herself look as nervous as she felt. "That chick over there? Anyone know her? I don't wanna like, freak anyone out but I saw her talking to some cops around the corner when I got here... I thought, whatever right? But now I think she might be a narc. Did anyone card her? I don't know about you guys, but I'm not sticking around to get caught by the cops drinking beer with a minor. I'm on scholarship."
Orah shoved her cup into the hands of the boy beside her before he could properly protest and then turned to quick-walk her way out of the group again. Walk like you don't want anyone to catch you doing something illegal... If she was lucky, someone had brought some weed too and the hint of police involvement would do the work for her. She crossed her fingers in the pockets of her jeans and went to find a safe spot to power up again.
A strange feeling came, nearer and nearer until Vanth’s heart was going to putty worry and anxious trembles. She shivered beneath ships, trying to rabbit-still scenting a unseen fox. What is that? What is out there? Will it find me?
The college kids weren’t concerned about the feel. They couldn’t sense it, couldn’t notice it’s breaking burden. Training was one thing, and progressing well, but still protected and early, It isn’t like Xenotime. It isn’t like the other one. Not like anyone. It has to be a senshi or a knight or a mirror senshi or a something. Not like us.
Relief. Respite the searing, screaming white behind her eyes blinked out. She could relax and enjoy the laughing voices, loud music and drunken shenanigans. People came and went across the party, and she didn’t pay notice unless they were over near the pack she was with and wanting chips. A trio came over and bee lined for her.
“Hey, your really from St. Ben’s?” “The habit of the uniform usually gives it away,” Vanth smiled up. Everyone knew what nuns looked like. It was clever cover, right? “You narc? Why are you at a party like this?” “I snuck out late to have a life. Narc what? I don’t want any trouble or to make trouble. I can go ...I- I mean, we all know I’m not rushing. It’s another year before I’m looking at college. Officially. And all.” “Stay on this side where we can see you going, right?” “There’s a bus stop at the end of the park that way I can use. You can walk me to it if you’re worried about ‘narcing.’” They looked between themselves, looking like they didn’t know if that would just be part of a plan to pick up someone for a breathalyzer or some other sting sort of operation. Some of them had had a few beers already and were nervous of anything that smelled like police. Vanth didn’t wait for their answer. She struggled off her hat-hood so that they could use it for a little as a chip holder. Uniform basics and how it would disappear when she powered down was already taught. Waves of ash and mahogany spilled out, earning surprise all around.
She still didn’t wait. Vanth walked out from the pavilion without heeding words called from behind. Out beyond views and calling and into the park. I’ve got a little at least. It’s an okay energy ball. My first success out in the field!
Whimsical Blue
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2018 1:41 pm
Safely outside view and down a block, Orah slipped into an alcove where an inset door, locked and barred, offered some cover from the street. A quick look about for cameras and she pulled out her pen to let the light wash over her, petals melting into fabric.
By the time she made it back up onto the roof tops, she was worried she'd missed the corrupt and the leafy trees, just starting to golden, offered more cover than she would have liked. It took some maneuvering, jumping from one roof to another to make her way around, before she found enough gaps to get a halfway decent scan of the park.
No strange, wimpled head, not at first... just young college kids and laughter. She had to really search before she caught someone walking down the street away from the party, and it was only the hair that swept the ground that tipped her off. Hat no where to be seen, the corrupt was finally leaving the group and a wash of relief pushed a sigh between Ida's lips. The kids were safe, but there was still a loose officer to deal with.
A tiny, nagging bit of guilt nibbled at her ribs as Ida took off at a fast trot, arrowing in to intercept. Basic senshi couldn't teleport, that she knew. This one wouldn't be escaping easily, not without calling in support, and in a sense, that made her similar to all the officers that had ever harassed her... but she was different, she swore to herself. She had no plans on murdering them, after all. She just wanted to make sure they weren't getting away with any energy... on the principle of the thing, even if it was the least of the Negaverse's sins. The corrupt could go after that... she didn't need to actually hurt them, unlike too many of her kind when roles were reversed.
The drum beat of boots picked up and Ida pushed herself to catch up, using her advantage in level to make sure the stranger had no chance to escape. The edge of the roof rushed up and Ida jumped, gathering her feet neatly together before she dropped and let her knees bend to take the force of landing.
"Stop there, Please." The older senshi said as she straightened up in the other's path, hands loose and her face calm, despite the flutter in her chest. The corrupt looked... young up close, and without the hat. Why she added the 'please', she wasn't sure. "If you have any energy from that group, I want you to turn it over to me. Now."
Positivity didn’t last long, eclipsed before even exiting the park: the searing presence lit again felt like it should engulf everything. Hearing the voice that said stop was afterthought to Vanth, who was already paused and rubbing her temples, eyes squinched at first until the second part came.
“I would need to know a good deal more about you, and whatever you’re doing! Out here, what makes you think you can demand things from strangers, Ma’am? ” This other looked very bright and busy in bows and purples against golds. Parts were even glowing, like tattoos, which seemed like it would hurt or be dangerous to have the way glowing watch faces used to be radioactive paint. “I don’t even know your name. You’re really bright.”
I thought only officers and mirror wraiths can hold the energy? I can’t give it to her, then, she can’t even hold it to take it anywhere or for anything. What a very funny request...why would she ask that?
Whimsical Blue
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2018 2:51 pm
The 'Ma'am' was probably the part that got her. It wasn't aggressive or defensive or rude, things she usually got from officers and expected from them. They were, to be honest, reasonable protests... if she had been a normal stranger on a normal street demanding the young woman turn over her purse or phone.
"I figured knowing I was an Order senshi was enough." Ida said as she watched the other, a small line forming between her brows. Calm for calm... It had been such a long time since the days of 'only fight if they start it first' and slipping back into it felt like putting on an old coat left in storage. "But to put it more simply... I know that you took energy from those people without their knowledge or consent, and I want you to release it back to them. Taking it was wrong, whatever they've told you. And, while I don't want to hurt you... I know I'm stronger than you, and I can make you, if I need to. I would rather not, though."
You're really bright...
Ida shifted, the fingers of her glowing hand closing loosely together. "I'm Transcended. It makes my energy... cleaner. Purer? So it seems brighter." She said slowly, wondering how new this one was. Transcendeds weren't exactly NEW news by now... but someone recently corrupted might not know yet. "And my name is Ida."
“ It’s not nice to lie. “ The small senshi shook her head, but didn’t push the admonishment further. ‘You shouldn’t’ would have been far to accusatory, and the situation was already sticky enough with how dizzy she felt around Ida. It was best not to act put out or fearful in these sort of things- those feelings made people nervous, and nerves made situations worse. Vanth’s mouth crinked to the side first, then broke into a careful smile. Her words came out a little fast though, like the beat of her heart.
“You have your reasons, I’m sure. They must be good reasons or you wouldn’t put yourself out here. You couldn’t know what I was or wasn’t doing- you are just making assumptions about what I have or haven’t asked those college kids. Or explained to them. Or any agreements. They're all a bit drunk though. That does muddy things... “
Lips pinched into a small ring again, considering and then letting it go for the exact moment in time. It was something to talk about with General Xenotime, where the authority and any of that came from. Drunkenness was a block of consent to a lot of things, as went with Health Class lessons, and surely it had to apply in some way to someone's energy. “Yes, I did take energy.”
There was no reason to be dishonest about it herself that she could fathom. Lying about not having the skill to have managed, or some other fantasy, “I have orders I have to follow. No, I can’t release it, Miss Ida. I have to listen to my General. If you want to give me different orders, then you’re going to have to sign up with her. If that was all, I need to be going. “
Vanth bobbed a curtsy and started to walk again.
Whimsical Blue
Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2018 7:56 am
Ida frowned, unsure where the lie in her words lay and slightly taken aback when her own assumptions were pushed back at her.
It was true... she didn't know for sure if they had given consent to have their energy taken, and she had assumed that, like any of the rest she had ever encountered, it had simply been taken. Perhaps more gently and quietly than usual, but still without their knowledge.
Vanth curtsyed, an odd gesture, and made to go, forcing Ida to shift quickly into her path.
"Did you really tell them what you were and what you were doing? Did you tell them what the energy was for?" She said quickly. "The Negaverse I know is public knowledge, sure, but they've never been upfront about taking energy from people."
She didn't like the idea of physically forcing this girl to release the energy she held, but she wasn't sure she was going to be able to convince her to do so on her own. All the conversations she'd had with them, all the times she had tried to persuade them to her side, had failed miserably, and because of that people were hurt, even killed. Ida wanted so badly to be able to do what Hver did, to talk and be heard, but it never worked out how she wanted it to. Something was lacking in her...
"Do you like doing that? Taking things like that from people?" The senshi changed tactics, trying to pick up her mental pace. "It doesn't bother you, that you're hurting them? Sure, they recover after a while, but I know how that feels and its not pleasant. Have you taken a starseed yet?"
"Did you know what you were getting into when you joined the Negaverse? Or did they just corrupt you and explain after?"
Oh dear! Vanth’s eyes widened involuntarily as the white eternal interposed into her path again. Clopping, unsteady heels brought up short, “I don’t see that need to answer any of your questions, Ma’am. “
I don’t know what the energy is used for. It’s for a quota. Everyone has an amount they have to turn in. I didn’t ask yet. Dear, she’s asking a lot of things all at once. I don’t know what to answer or to not. Or why she’s insistent on it. I don’t know what to do about her. She’s so fast in just stepping like she’s walking. “That’s getting a little personal. My General was very kind to me. Manipulating energy is very fundamental magic, and I need to know how to use magic. “
“I’m sure it’s all very simple for you. You’re very impressive. But, really, I should be getting back. “ Always compliment with a smile so that it could be seen to be genuine feeling, that was how it was right for people to speak well of each other. Then Vanth tried turning off the pave of the walkway to the grass. It was a dour proposition in her strange heels, but the eternal senshi had interposed on the walk.
"Pardon my stepping off so soon." oh dear oh dear oh dear oh dear
Whimsical Blue
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2018 1:27 pm
You're very impressive. Ida almost, almost flinched, firming her jaw and pushing back the feeling. A reminder of their differences in power level and her responsibilities because of that.
It was so tempting to grab her, pull her, especially when she kept trying to dodge, but a nagging in her kept her from it, an itch in her fingers. If she violated her space like that, was she any better than those she fought? What were her ideals, if she didn't embody them?
"Don't answer, if you please, but consider the answers anyway. What you consider right, and how far you're willing to go for some organization that preys on people without power... Kind Generals or not." Titan had been kind once. And then he had let his youma tear her open. Ida drew her arm across her body and bent her knees, making a show of winding up for something. Senshi magic was less than ideal for threatening to use... you looked more like you were dramatically posing than being serious...
"I'm sorry, but I have to insist you drop the energy you gathered. Do it and I'll let you go. Don't, and I'm going to have to unfortunately rough you up. I don't want to, but I will. You can try to run but I promise I can catch up." She said, trying to sound firm and not just full of false bravado.
“I’m not preying on anyone, “ Vanth’s tone was insistent, however softened to a whisper through a smile that grew more and more strained. But she was stopped again, in the sights of whatever it was this senshi intended about roughing and promises. Who was who’s prey, wandered through her mind.
“I won’t. I won’t be doing that. Do your worst; bring out your spells, if you insist. I will not flinch. “ A big game of talk. She felt like all the blood in her body had just settled into a cold iron loaf in her stomach. Maybe she’s like me. Maybe she her spells don’t hurt anyone.
Whimsical Blue
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 4:52 pm
It was a thrown glove on the ground between them and Ida considered it for a moment, her mouth pinched with distaste.
She had to be testing her. Not one was foolish enough to stand there and refuse someone threatening you, even if they hated doing it. She didn't think she'd do it and Ida remembered all the times she'd seen them hurt people. The starseeds taken and eaten, the energy drained to senselessness. Her own wasting away in the dark on a foreign planet.
She was serious, and she didn't have to hurt her, not that much, to break her concentration or whatever it took to keep those energy balls intact. She didn't have to kill her, and wouldn't, unlike some of her counterparts, and most of the Negaverse. They were still enemies and the people back in that park were more important than a few scrapes and bruises in their defense.
It still nagged at her, even as she rationalized it.
"Beautiful Petal Barrage!" Ida called out, sweeping her hand in front of her like she was casting stones between them. Or dice. Or seeds...
The magic formed and glowed and sprayed outwards in glowing petal needles.
Super Sailor Scout Attack: Beautiful Petal Barrage! [What it does] A powered up version of the Petal Darts, the petals can cause slightly deeper cuts that take more than just one day to heal. Clothing can still block this but there is a chance of the fibers being sliced by the petal, which could need to be repaired. Range is again, five or six feet and she can use it twice per battle. Twice will exhaust her and she will have to retire from the fight until she's rested.
Vanth’s fists bunched at her hips, white knuckled and pressed nails to shorts. It was like a roller coaster’s wind, the fear at the bottom where her stomach dropped out before the train turned and boxed her ears too hard against the shoulder bars.
Ringings and small tugs all over. Quick, numb pulls against the lace and legs and stomach. It didn’t hurt as it happened, but the trembling pulled at the separated skin, cut nerves screaming before red welled out over cream and warm browns. Made warmer. Her legs were wet, and the cuts there stung bright warning, warming Yellow, then Red.
Not dead. Where is anyone...someone...Xenotime or Reven...someone help. Not dead.
She turned her tears downward at the ground. She was still smiling, bit her lip, choking out at a whisper, “Horrible. They’re not beautiful at all they’re horrible.”
“It’s like that sometimes. Like this. ” She couldn’t feel the energy in her hold anymore, in her mind’s eye. It felt like there was a rock right at the very back of ger tongue, making swallowing impossible, talking a labour. Crying in front of this, during this, felt like the petals all over again. “Are you going to do more?”
Whimsical Blue
Don't step in the puddle.
Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2018 4:41 pm
The corrupt stood there and took it, unmoving as little needles of light cut little red lines. It made her stomach twist.
At least it seemed to have had the effect she intended, the energy bits gone back to where they belonged and there was some satisfaction in that. Not a clean victory, but there wasn't much about this war that was clean.
"No." Ida said as she straightened up. Her face held as smooth and blank as she could keep it. "That's all I wanted. Go home. I'll be out here all night, and most nights after this."
The night felt cold and the tears on the other's face made her feel colder. But at least she could still cry about things like this. About little hurts and being pushed around by someone stronger. She was still herself, or near enough. It probably wouldn't last too long, which was more cause for grieving than getting the energy she'd collected taken away.
Ida backed up a step and turned on her heel, forcing herself to walk away from the mess she'd left behind. She'd have to stay all night, as she'd promised, to be sure the corrupt didn't circle back and try again, though the party probably wouldn't let her back in if she did. She at least had a lot to think about while she hung around.
