This meeting she had with Zinkenite had been scheduled a few days ago and while it was proposed under the suggestion of training, she really wasn’t sure what to expect from it. For a while now her energy quota had been exceeded especially over the holidays because there were plenty of people who really didn’t like being alone this time of year which made them easy targets.
The place she had been instructed to go to was out along the city limits near the industrial part of town right where snow covered pine trees lined each side of the street before opening up into an area with several warehouses, a mill, and what looked to be an abandoned building with the number of shattered windows along the north side.
There was little evidence that anyone had been out this far in at least a week, if not longer.The snow in the parking lot had built up to a good five inches and looked as if it had been undisturbed since the storm began in December. Surprisingly it seemed that every last employee made it out just in time as there wasn’t even a single abandoned car left in the lot as she put her car into park in the middle of this frozen wonderland.
For several minutes, Phedre held her hands out in front of the heater to soak in some extra warmth before finally resigning herself to powering up to see if Zinkenite had already arrived.
~~~
There was an energy signal, absolutely, and it felt more like a general, or a powerful captain perhaps. Rather like when he had Absinthe there to mask his power and keep them from attracting too much attention.
The signature vanished for a breath, and then reappeared, a few feet away, scuffing his feet in the snow.
“Well?” He called. “You’re not going to stay warmer in there, trust me.I can make sure of that .” He grinned enough to reach his eyes despite the mask, and Abby peered out from the confines of his tall collar, looking rather content with her lot and perch.
“Today, is not just about training you to be stronger, or faster. We’re going to make you more aware of what surrounds you.” He said spreading his hands.
“I’ll go slower for you, I won’t teleport as much as I could, and I certainly won’t knock you top over teacups unless you get a bit reckless. But, we have a lot of things I can do, that should prove every bit as informative, and worth avoiding.” He bowed, more than a little tease in his voice.
~~~
From the other side of the glass Meridiana’s expression looked rather displeased by the way that her lips made an almost perfect rainbow shape with how deep her frown was. Before opening the door she drew in a deep breath then exhaled to fog up the cold glass window. With her index finger she began to write something backwards so at least he could read it.
U SUCK The fog itself didn’t last long with her defrosters running but the point was made nonetheless.
After cutting the engine she opened the door and stepped outside, “This is cruel and unusual punishment you know that right?”
~~~
“Oh no, that happens if you don’t pay attention.” he said and chuckled, reaching up to rub Abby’s ears.
Come on then… Come try and hit me.” He said backing up one slow step, and then another.
“Do try not to hit the cat, She’s rather heedless of my neck.” He added.
~~~
“Hey now, that’s not fair…” She blurted out after actually trying to take a swing at him because it was flippin cold outside only to be evaded as if she was nothing more than a toddler trying to keep up with an adult.
“Just-” She paused and in a huff pointed at him almost scoldingly but with no bite or authority behind the action. “Hold up. Did you-... Is this-... Are we… playing tag? Is that why we’re out here?” Why else would he be challenging her to hit him?
~~~
“No, I mean try and HIT me, Say, that should I turn the tables on you, that I might hurt you, If you don’t succeed before I reach, say, that tree… I’ll start turning the tables on you. If you do, I’ll give you another destination.”
He explained it calmly.
“If you can get through this, we’ll upgrade to things like chalk, it should just be warmer for that, or a space indoors, I think I know someone who could provide it too…”
~~~
“Yeah… sure… if I don’t freeze to death first.” Meridiana muttered under her breath. While a warmer place to train was definitely appealing it really wasn’t enough motivation to get her going quite yet. “What do I get if I do hit you though?” Just like the tic-tac-toe game she wanted a prize.
~~~
“Strike me, say… 8 times, we won’t make it too hard, and I’ll give you one of those stories you like so much. How does that sound? Otherwise, we can negotiate terms after you figure out what my counter attacks are.” he chuckled… a wicked gleam in his eye as he backed towards the tree.
~~~
Meridiana’s eyes narrowed in his direction as she pondered his proposition. Eight times… Seemed a bit much but she highly doubted he’d change the number, at least not in her favor if she put up an argument. That look in his eyes did not bode well for her in any case, there was something he wasn’t saying, something he had planned and while knowing was half the battle that laugh of his still made the hairs stand up on the back of her neck.
Nope…
Without a word she turned her back to her General King so she faced her car and with one hand reached for the handle yet she didn’t open the door. Instead she watched his reflection to see if he would actually stop her from going.
~~~
He sighed, shaking his head and looked askance, before vanishing. He appeared, again for a heart beat, a flicker of movement, like a stutter before he appeared, crouching on the -roof- of her car, with a large, handful, of snow.
“Really, quitting already, That deserves a penalty.”
And then he dumped it on her.
~~~
That… did not go at all how she had planned. “Damn it!” The outburst had nothing to do with the fact he didn’t respond how she had anticipated. Rather it had everything to do with the cold chunks of snow that slid down her backside and clung to her hair.
The arm that had been hanging to her side balled into a fist “You know what?” She looked up at him, that familiar fire burned in her eyes the same way it had when they had first met. “Challenge accepted!” She let go of of the handle and with what strength she had as a senshi shoved her car to the side knowing it would just slide on the compacted snow she had parked on top of.
~~~
He gave a surprised sound, a solid thump of his posterior onto the roof, and then the most visible thing for a moment were his boots as he vanished over the side to the accompaniment of Abby’s undignified squawk, and some swearing.
~~~
“Oh crap! Sorry Abby…” Meridiana winced honestly not meaning to make Zinkenite fall on the little mauvian although if her claws had managed to get him she was half tempted to count that as a first hit.
As she skirted the car, the Senshi of the Succubus paused next to the right headlight and looked down at the General Sovereign, with his coat fanned out around him in an almost undignified fashion. The sight itself felt like instant karma for dumping the snow on her which brought an overly amused look to her face. “I’ll do this training of yours under one condition… If you’re going to have Abby dampen your signature then you agree to be bound by the limitations of your perceived rank. Meaning…” Again she pointed a finger at him, “no infinite teleports.”
“Deal?” Meridiana, in good faith, reached a hand out to help him up.
~~~
He arched an eyebrow at her.
“I’ll agree, to limiting my teleports, but for this time only… heaven help us someday we may find a senshi of portals, or you’ll find yourself offending a Dark Mirror Senshi in a Fun House. We’re going to make sure you’re prepared.” He said and strood up, dusting himself. Off.
“Besides, think on this, the more snow you soak ME with the damper my coat is going to be when I offer it to you at the end of our training. Just a warning.” He smirked.
~~~
“Fair enough.”
Meridiana’s demeanor shifted then to something more relaxed if not self assured or confident that she may actually have a chance. In her right hand a golden ethereal item appeared and as she gripped the handle the full length of the whip appeared, the end of which coiled at her feet. In a fluid motion she swung the magical weapon around and snapped it beside her with a resounding crack that echoed in the empty parking lot. “Look at me.” she said in an almost seductive voice.
Releasing the weapon she brought her hand up and blew a kiss in his direction and added an unnecessary suggestive wink just for good measure.
With an almost feline grace she walked towards him so their toes were nearly touching. “Just as a fair warning in return,” She purred, reaching up to trace his jaw line with her index finger only pausing when she got to his chin. “I have absolutely no intention of returning it to you any time soon. I got dibs on it for the rest of winter.” Not that she had any way to enforce it especially since she knew the moment Zinkenite powered down it too would disappear.
Speaking of which… All he had to do was power down then back up and it would be dry again so what did it matter if it got super wet. As that simple realization dawned on her, Meridiana’s grin grew ever wider.
Knowing that her magic would break the moment she tried to hit him, Meridiana instead pinched the fabric of his mask and pulled it down so it was more like a turtleneck. Much like before she leaned in close enough that their breaths mingled between them yet she did not kiss him. Not on the lips anyway, at least not this time. Instead she rose up on her tippy toes and moved her head to the side to give him a kiss on his other cheek.
“I guess it’s your turn to run.” At her side, her other hand balled into fist which she brought up to punch him in the gut knowing that, despite their proximity, he would get away.
~~~
Abby, chose that -exact- moment, to jump for Zink’s shoulder, which meant a fluffy -ball, suddenly tried to jam itself between the two.
“My Warm spot!!” She protested squirming upward. “I’m WET and COLD and it’s NOT fair!” She huffed.
~~~
“Abby?!” Meridiana blurted out the mauvians name as if she had been betrayed by her intervention.
~~~
“It’s less fun when I’m in the snow!!” A stubby tail tickled the Senshi of the Succubus as it ‘swished’ back and forth the best it could for all her tiny irritation.
“Ohhh… you used magic, ohhhhhdear.” The cat said about half way up blinking wide green eyes.
~~~
“What?!?” She looked up at Zinkenite then back down at Abby. “He…” Again she glanced up into those sky blue eyes. Damn you… “You didn’t say anything about me not being able to use magic.” She huffed. Why is it she felt like more snow was going to be dumped on her for ‘cheating’.
“Are you really going to make me physically run after you? Because- well” She looked around the open parking lot then over to the tree he had pointed to a few moments ago and let out a heavy sigh. Well what? She had nothing to really add to that. “It at least kept you in one place long enough to get close.” Not like he’d allow her that opportunity again but it was worth a shot. “You can’t fault me for that.”
“How much of this property do you actually plan on using anyway? Can’t Abby just stay in my car, I’ll turn the heat on so she’s warm. Or does she-” Meridiana turned her attention to the little mauvian. “Do you need to be attached to him? Because let's be honest that’s two against one and you know I won’t hit her.” She already felt bad enough that her self proclaimed owner had fallen off the back of the car along with Zinkenite with the stunt she had pulled.
~~~
“Oh I’m not faulting you, but just remember, I have my own defences too.” He said wickedly. “And remember, the white moon senshi fight with Chibi’s as well, sometimes side by side. Imagine she’s one of those. Beides, You try and control a guardian cat who’s discovered that the inside of your collar is a ‘toasty’ place to be for… “
“Cold toe beans!” Interjected abby as she settled in and turned to address Zink.
“You really need a scarf, you should ask Metalia.”
~~~
“I think he has enough layers.” Both figuratively and literally which kind of sucked for her. Not only did he not react like she had expected him to when she used her magic, there wasn't even a hint of a faint blush this time which meant that she was obviously losing her touch or he was becoming immune to her flirtatious nature already. But, despite all the clothing he had on, Meridiana knew it wouldn't hinder his movements unless, by chance, he got overheated.
“So seven more hits then?” Meridiana raised a brow at him assuming Zink would contest her number.
~~~
He nodded, agreeing.
“Seven more, but you’ll be working for it. You -can- concede, but then you won’t get your prize.” He grinned.
“... just a suggestion, before we continue. You might want to, power down, take OFF your winter coat, power up and ah, don it again.” He said after a moment.
He was ‘casually’ backing away not quite looking at her.
“You’ll be, warmer, and it’s less likely snow will travel places that you’ll very much, regret.”
~~~
Meridiana stood there blinking a few times before turning her attention to some arbitrary object off to the far left of where they stood with an almost sheepish look on her face. Truth be told that hasn't even crossed her mind as an option despite doing exactly that when she went out on ‘dates’ to gather energy. I'm slipping…
“One moment.” Walking around to the other side of her car the diminutive signature blinked out of existence as she powered down and opened the drivers door. After removing her coat she sat down on the seat and began unlacing her snowshoes as well. “I'll be damned if I'm going to chase you around in heels.” Snow being dropped on her was one thing but a broken ankle was last thing she wanted to deal with.
Once done she powered up again, and removed her senshi shoes in favor of the fur lined boots that sat on the floor of her car, Meridiana put her coat back on and shut the door. It wasn't exactly the warmest thing especially since it lacked a hood but it was better than nothing she supposed.
“Ok.” She resigned herself to participating in this training exercise of his. “Ready when you are I guess.”
~~~
“People often forget that they can do that, just remember to take them off when you power down or they will go heavens knows where.”
He shrugged. “I thankfully, have the opposite problem. Summer is my personal nightmare.” He chuckled, stooping to scoop up a handful of snow.
“Right… So, you’ll have to be good at dodging too, some senshi attacks, you can dodge.” He said and chucked the snowball casually in her direction.
~~~
Rather than stepping out of the way Meridiana simply flinched by turning her body to the side allowing herself to get hit in the hip. Thankfully the snow was loosely compacted and just exploded in a puff of white flakes rather than leaving her feeling like she had been pelted with a baseball.
She crouched down to form two snowballs of her own all the while wishing she had remembered to grab gloves before leaving her house. “Some…” She stood up then, “but what about those you can’t?” Like hers, so long as the target was within range there was no escaping until she picked a victim from the group standing in her area of effect.
Meridiana lobbed the first snowball with her non dominant hand in his direction followed by the one she hoped would actually hit. Zinkenite was no fool though and luck, as per usual in these circumstances, was not on her side as the first one actually, shockingly, came close but the second fell apart before she even had a chance to let it go. Really…?
~~~
