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 Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:12 am
Get up, get out, get some fresh air.
They all sounded like wonderful ideas until you actually put them into practice In his civilian ‘guise’ he felt rather too much still, like a limp noodle, and was all too aware of the, changes, in his life. Contrast that to being in uniform, where he at least felt stronger, he always did… but he also was something of a beacon, he’d have to keep his wits about him because sooner or later, he’d get company.
And where there was company, there was soon to follow, ‘far too much company’.
Still, for the time being, it was nice to return to the edge of the lake and sit on the bench.
He crossed his legs with a small groan at the aches that still settled in his bones then stretched out his arm before him, staring at the hand before clenching it into a fist and coming to attention, scanning the area for the energy signature that had come to his attention.
“Come out, come out wherever you are.” He called in a dry voice, a small irritation creeping in at the feel of order. Would he know them? Or would they be new?
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:14 am
Albireo had been trying to get used to it all over again. It was so hard to go from who she had been…to who she had been when she had been corrupted…to who she was now…
It wasn’t quite going back to where she started from…because she still had nothing of the civilian that she was. She had nothing from either time…and even though she had her love. Her Jarosite…now Siegfried.
Things were hard. She didn’t quite want to actually power up. She was sucked into another hard bout of depression that didn’t seem to want to lift…
Going back to Order hadn’t fixed…anything. It had only left her more unstable and more confused. Though, just like last time, she had fallen back to dancing. Her limbs had gotten used to the movements, and she made sure to go to the studio several times a week, and it helped her. It helped her focus. Ground herself.
And now…months later here she was, going out as Albireo and what should happen but she should come face to face with a horribly strong member of chaos. Someone who caused goosebumps to rise all over her body, who made her want to run and hide. To use the teleportation that she no longer had access to.
It felt as though the breath had left her lungs and for a moment she hesitated, torn between going towards the chaos and seeing what would happen and breaking into a run.
But. Idiot.
Whoever that was could teleport.
So quietly she obliged, taking a few steps towards the voice. Towards the overwhelming power signature and for a moment she was sure the breath was sucked from her lungs again.
“…Zinkenite.”
This had to be a dream.
Or a nightmare.
But, all the super senshi could do was stare blankly at the ghost from her past.
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:15 am
He twisted slightly to see her, blinking, surprise, then frowning, tipping his head. He looked like he was about to say something, and then stopped. He folded his hands on his lap. He took a breath and let it out before saying rather carefully, rather, uncertainty. “Pardon me, It’s been a while. So, correct me if I’m wrong, but… didn’t I do something about that white uniform?” He tipped his head to the side looking really, honestly baffled.
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:16 am
Albireo paused, eyes closing for a long moment. “You’re not wrong, General King. You’re not wrong at all. You did…ah. Take care of the white uniform and…”
Her gloved hands gently began to curl into fists and she trembled slightly. “And took away my greatest ally. And then never bothered to see how I was settling in…and finally I just…I left okay. I think I’m going to try to be happier knowing that I caused all sorts of destruction to my world—I don’t care. I just don’t care.”
Her words were starting to become unintelligible.
“Don’t think you can use your sweet words on me again, because, it won’t work this time, Zink.”
Albireo’s eyes were burning and she blinked rapidly when his image before her suddenly blurred. “********.” She wiped away the traitorous tears and her arms folded over her chest.
“Where have you been?”
The question was angry. Accusatory.
She had thought they were friends. She had thought he had cared about her. And she had been wrong.
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:18 am
He glanced away, a small huff of breath. “.... indisposed.” He said after a moment, his voice hard. “Sorry, that I was unable to make social calls.” He said, jaw tight and eyes narrowed. He spread his hands as though to say ‘such is life’. The fingerless gloves the same as they had ever been, the hands beneath, not so much. “Forgive me if I spare you the finer details. But perhaps you can inform me, what… destruction to your world?” He shook his head. “Or do you mean the alien heritage of the senshi?” He sighed. “And I’m afraid I’m not sure which Ally I took away. I don’t recall killing -anyone, but it’s been a while. I’ve had other things on my mind.”
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:18 am
It had been years. There was no reason to hold a grudge against him. And it wasn’t even as though he knew anything that she was talking about. Not that it mattered.
“The alien heritage really. If I recall correctly, which I might not be, let’s just remember it’s been years, but you were the one who told me how destructive they could be…though. It doesn’t matter now.
Her eyes moved to his hands and she seemed a little confused, a little interested, but thought better of asking.
“Don’t worry about who you took away, because now I’ve taken him away. Jarosite is no longer among your ranks either, I’m sorry to say.”
Only she wasn’t. She wasn’t sorry to say it at all. She was just sorry that it had taken so long to get him to do the right thing. For a moment, Albireo just watched him, and finally she shrugged, glancing away.
“…I’m glad you’re not dead. I was starting to wonder.”
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:19 am
“You have an alien world, which seems to be the source of your powers.” He murmured “And the senshi, and knights are dangerous.” He folded his arms. And made a small sound in his throat. “We all are in our own ways, each of us defending our choices, and defending our right to change our minds.” He glanced back with a flicker in his eyes, something that came surprisingly close to anger. “Enlighten me, please, since few things bother me as much as not remembering accurately. Are you implying I took away your greatest ally, when I killed them? Or did I recruit them?” He took a breath and let it out, folding his arms, then refolding them to hide that glint of metal fingers. “You’ll pardon me, after the brief tirade about … leaving you, and removing your greatest ally if I’m a little skeptical that you… missed me.” He pulled down his mask, just enough to show her a tired smile. “But it’s intriguing to see you again as well. Please, forgive my shortness…. I’m, tired.”
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:20 am
She nodded. “And because of the war in the past, it was destroyed. I know.” Albireo hadn’t been up there again. She had done it once before. But…perhaps…she would give it another go. There were so many things she could do now. There was time to learn all that she could.
“You told him to stay away from me. You were angry that we were in love. It annoyed you I guess, though I didn’t understand.”
Her green eyes were back on him, eyebrows raised. “Oh, I didn’t say that I missed you, Zinkenite. I said that it was good to see you because I thought you were dead.” If that implied missing him…well.
No. She missed the friend in him she once thought she had. But. Again, that was many, many years ago.
“I understand that. I was tired too…it was why I left. I haven’t been happy in a long, long time. And not that I can delude myself into thinking I’m happy now…but perhaps I have the chance to be. I have the chance to find happiness.”
She wondered what had happened with his arms. She wanted to ask but…
Well. That just wasn’t her place. Not anymore.
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:21 am
He made a face and wrinkled his nose. “Mmm… If I did such a thing, there was a deeper reason, though as you said, it hardly matters now.” He chuckled. “You’ve grown up I think, before you wouldn’t have corrected the nuance.” He tipped his head. “I should have brought tea, I find that is a lovely little oasis when you’re struggling to find something as elusive as Happiness. I suggest… purpose.” “Honestly, it seems like that’s more available” “Well, in the absence of tea, and the blessed absence of other interlopers why don’t we find a food cart, you can at least tell me what you’ve been up to.”
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:21 am
Purpose, hm? An interesting thought, and one that almost made her smile. What on earth would purpose do for anyone?
“Of course I’ve grown up. It’s been what…six years? Perhaps longer? I’m not quite sure what you think I’ve been doing in that time. Well. Other than growing a lot of resentment for a lot of people.” She shrugged idly and raised a brow at him once again. “Well, while I wouldn’t have said no to tea, I’m not quite sure how you envision going to a food cart. I know I don’t carry money around in this form, though if you do, you’re going to be buying.”
There was no fear in her, and perhaps there should have been a lot. But…for right now, Albireo just…saw this as a venting session. And she was…quite adept at venting, it seemed.
“But, if you’re buying, then yes I’m all for it, otherwise, I am capable of talking about myself without food. Though, now that I’ve thought of it…I really would like some. But. I haven’t done much that was interesting and if I have…”
She gave a rueful smile and shrugged. “I’ve forgotten it. But. Such is the curse of changing one’s mind.”
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:23 am
“I’m very familiar with that curse.” He said softly, and fished a bill out of his pocket, flashing a fold of green. “My treat then, let them eat cake, or… well, street cart food, if there are any left out and they don’t run away when they see us.” His smile was forced and humorless. He tucked the bill away again in his deep pocket and rubbed absently at his arm, sighed softly as they started walking. “It is interesting what people forget, I feel like most forget happiness first, kindness, pain is so much more memorable. You could write whole histories on a moment that hurts, or a moment that hurts you. Broken hearts and the like. But … changing your mind, it can wipe out even that. I’ve seen that much first hand.” He murmured. “Hmm… are you any more organized than before? I was half expecting more of you to appear, since you’re unhappy,but hopeful, there must be some appeal. That or you just happen to prefer brighter uniforms, if you can call a pocketless pinafore a uniform.”
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:23 am
She snorted quietly, keeping her arms folded across her chest, listening to him talk about forgotten feelings and forgotten memories. Though when he asked if she was any more organized she snorted much more loudly. “…Do you mean you as in me by myself, or you as in all of the senshi as a whole? Because if you’re asking about me, then no I’m not more organized. I’m still as lost and as hopeless as ever. But…I was utterly miserable on your side of things. There was no sense of family. Nobody gave any sort of damn about me. It was nothing that you had promised and I…was unhappy. I remember that. And I just…” She shrugged.
“Honestly the color of the outfit does nothing for me, if I had my way, I wouldn’t be out here at all but…”
Albireo grew quiet, her eyes holding a sad light to them. “But it’s what I remember. Both times, my life was wiped away. Both times I’ve had to start over…and all I know is wearing this costume. But I did it so little…all I have is anger and annoyance from being with the Negaverse so.” She shrugged. “That’s all, pretty much. As for if the senshi as a whole are more organized. I have no idea. This is my first outing since fence jumping.”
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:24 am
He glanced at her, surprised. “Well… not my first night out since my return but, near enough. “To putting on uniforms, with or without pockets.” He said and held up a hand as though he had a wine glass to salute the night with. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry I wasn’t there to provide that sense of… family. I was trying before I, left.” His mouth is a thin line for a moment and he shakes his head as though to brush away a thought. “Well… do finish the thought. You wouldn’t be out here at all … but?” He tips his head. “Don’t tell me, you stepped out because you felt -me-” He said drolly. “That kind of action would raise more questions than I think you’d like.” HE glanced up and then said. “Ah!” He moved ahead of her, towards a small push cart. White sides with pictures of pretzels on the side, a few lonesome ones hanging from a metal rack on display, a thick knot of one painted on the front, along with prices and soda types. “What would you like to drink…. I’m afraid you’ll have to commit long enough to finish it, I’ve only got so much cash.”
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:25 am
Albireo stared at the General King for a long moment, and promptly burst into laughter. “Oh please, Zink. Get your head out of the clouds you’re not a God. I was already out and already powered when you called me over. You’re not really an energy signature that I can simply run away from. I’m not an idiot and as much as I wish I could, I can’t teleport anymore so. I didn’t have much of a choice from my view on things.”
She couldn’t stop the rather amused smile that crossed her face though when he seemed so excited at the food cart.
“I’ll take a sprite then I suppose. I don’t mind committing long enough to finish a snack, Zink. That’s not really any sort of an issue.”
It was strange. How easy this was. How normal it seemed to just be standing here talking to Zink like it was seven years ago and she had good sense.
But she hadn’t had good sense then and…well.
“Make sure you get enough mustard for the pretzel, won’t you?”
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:25 am
“Good to know that neither mustard, nor sprite are too taxing on you, or… perhaps you’ll alternate bites, and trade sides that way.” He said with an almost coy tone. He gave her a dry look, shaking his head and reached out to -thwop- her on the head with a pretzel. “I do not have a god complex, I am simply aware, of just how far my energy signature spreads.” “Apply as much mustard as you’d like, I don’t think they will argue.” He held up the pretzel twist that he hadn’t bopped her with. “Knowing, is half the battle. Like knowing I can only provide opportunities, I can’t fix everything.” He tore off a piece of pretzel. “But even I have things to learn, good to know, that swapping sides isn’t the solution people seem to treat it as, though I at least know I should try and see what we can do about that...family aspect. I’ll have to look into things.” He shrugged. “Tell me. Did it hurt to be… ‘redeemed’?” He said that last word with more than a little sarcasm. “I know it doesn't hurt to awaken as a white clad senshi, I’ll admit, that’s always been a bother to me, did we ever discuss that?”
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