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 Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 8:24 am
This was surreal. There had been some tense days of preparation and build up coming to this moment, and now it was here. Everyone she had spoken to had gathered at the agreed upon location and time. Introductions had been made. They left Earth far behind and now stood on the beautiful glistening sandy beach of Methone’s moon, and above her head danced a glorious aurora, shedding its light on everything here, as the waves rolled in.
It was a small irritation, but it bothered Stillwaterite that she might not remember, rather soon at that, how she got here. To Methone, that was. It was beautiful. She was more than positive she’d admired it again, but it bothered her that she might just---wake up---again, and not remember getting here. It was minor in the grand scheme of things, but in light of what she was facing, it was there. She prepared the best she could. She read and re-read the journals in which she had recorded her memories multiple times, both as Knot and as Still. It was her hope that no matter what side she’d come out of this losing---the memory of what she had written down would be enough to fill in the gaps immediately after.
She just didn’t want to feel like she had when she had woken up to the Negaverse.
Blank.
Still tore her gaze away from the sky to glance over those who had gathered. Beringia. Encke. Eurydike. She settled on Methone last.
“I’m ready.”
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 9:50 am
Methone needed a moment. No matter what anybody said, travelling with 4 people was HARD. Even as a transcendent, the woman was exhausted and leaning heavily on one of the many tropical trees.
"I feel like I got wiped." She was sweating just a little but Still was here and so was the group she chose to be here with her. "Gimme like a couple of minutes to recover." She breathed in, waiting for the natural draw of her planet to help her recover.
She didn't know Eurydike, the smaller salt senshi, but she knew Encke and Beringia and that was good too. "Make yourselves at home." She waved.
Beringia on the other hand, looked at the two gathered new people he didn't know and the corrupt at his side. A hand reached out to take hers and squeeze gently on it.
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 2:22 pm
Encke, standing slightly to the side, quirked an amused brow when he noticed the knight's--Beringia of Polaris, he reminded himself--move. Huh. Maybe his train of thought about it being someone's dashing good looks wasn't entirely that far off. He opened his mouth to make a mild tease at the apparent lovebirds, but the struggle that Methone seemed to be having took his priority for the moment. He hadn't ever tried taking more than one person at once to his comet before, and she had just managed to take four with her. Was she going to be alright? Instead of making himself at home exactly, Encke moved a bit closer to her, raising his hands into the air and squeezing a bit. "Would you like a shoulder rub or something?" She looked like she just ran a damn marathon, and sadly, he hadn't had the forethought to bring a bottle of water. Or a performance drink. He wished he had. That might be more helpful than a massage, especially considering how brief it would probably be. If she accepted. Then again, his Arra did always say he was rather good at them. Something about the broad palms and a strong grip. Something about how they could help ease the muscle aches from all the dancing he tended to do... Something about-- Distractions, distractions.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 4:35 pm
He'd never been on somebody else's planet. Eurydike was acutely aware of that as he stood there, gaping up at the beautiful skies of Methone. He'd never known s**t up here could be so beautiful - he hadn't visited his namesake planet much, but it was nothing like this. It was only ever miserably pouring rain or miserably hot and dry. Not beautiful and vibrant like this, the type of place he would've honestly loved to kick back for a week or something for a ********, did I ever draw the short straw on planets, " he mumbled mostly to himself; he didn't know anyone besides Still, after all, and she was kind of... well first of all this was a huge thing for her, and second, there was a dude holding her hand. Was it that kind of hand holding? - god he sounded like a ******** elementary school brat, but he felt like if there was something to that, the ******** didn't he know about it?? Part of him really wished Emrys was here with him. For the beauty, for the comfort, for... a lot of reasons. He felt kind of like that awkward tag-along kid from the other school invited to a cousin's birthday party. But ********, like that party, this wasn't really about him. Just be there, yeah, just focus on that: being there. Even as he thought that, a low, "Anythin' I can do?" for Methone popped right out of him before he could stop it.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 7:19 pm
"Of course." She murmured back to assure Methone. A part of her felt bad, to see the Eternal of the Aurora strained on her account, for her. She also almost wanted to tease the woman too, but...well. It wasn't exactly nerves. Just an anticipation. One she could relate to a band aid about to be ripped off. It was going to be unpleasant. It was going to take some skin, but it was coming, and she wanted to get it over with. This small window in between the life she was leaving, and the one she was about to leap into---it was agonizing. Still looked at Beringia as he took her hand, and that anticipation she felt buzzing under her skin calmed somewhat. There he was---being that quiet but sturdy assurance she very much appreciated. The corrupt threaded her fingers through his, and held his hand in return, giving it a squeeze back, and once again, she wished to herself to remember this and him. She then turned her attention back to the others, and did find it a sight to see two Eternals fretting over Methone in their own way. Not even being right next to them, she could see in Eurydike's stance he just wanted to be helpful---and it was warming to see that Encke and Methone did get along so well. It truly was good people to be surrounded by.
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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 3:19 pm
"Come here Handsome." She beckoned Eurydike over, taking his hand and looking the salt senshi in the face. He was adorable, even with the patch hiding half of it. "Don't worry, all planets are different. Mine, and his-" Her head jerked to Encke, "Are special because we opened ourselves up too. It wasn't always a nice paradise here." She remembered overgrown jungle and broken buildings and glass.
"We're gonna call Cosmos." She nodded, "So I need you to take Still's hand when you can." Too Encke though, she reached over and slipped her fingers into his. "We'll need your energy just for a bit if you don't mind handsome." She winked, "but I'll take you up on magic fingers afterwards? We can take a break after since it'll be a process."
She wanted to make sure though, so that everyone knew. "This isn't going to be easy. Cosmos will come, and I'm not sure exactly what she'll do. Whatever she does though, it'll take a lot of power and Still...." Her gaze looked over to the corrupt, holding her brothers hand. "No matter what, purification hurts, just as corruption does. We'll do our best to mitigate the pain-" She squeezed Eurydikes hand, and then Enckes.
"This is your team here, you know? We're here for you." The three senshi gathered were more then enough. She let go of the boy's hands to hold hers out to Still's. "Are you ready to come home then?"
Beringia listened mostly, and kept notes, but there wasn't much else for the man to say. Unlike the glowing man besides Methone, he did not have the energy of transcendence.
And Unlike Eurydike, he didn't have the senshi connection. Of the group gathered so far, he felt oddly out. But it doesn't matter because once she was purified, it was up to him to help her after. He let her go and stood back. Silent and waiting for whatever show that was about to be put on.
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 9:08 pm
Encke couldn't help beaming when his comet was mentioned. Honestly, his world was his pride and joy. "My world wasn't always functioning as well as it is now, either. Not that you have context for that, but," Encke squeezed Methone's hand just slightly, before turning his glance over to Eurydike. "Every world is unique and beautiful in their own ways, even if it seems like it isn't initially." ... What was with him and the cheesy sayings lately? He really needed to get his Cheese Meter in check. Was that a thing? A Cheese Meter? Maybe he was just getting old. Ignoring the thought that, in fact, being a nearly ten year veteran to the existence of this war probably did make him old in a lot of respects, Encke cleared his throat and confirmed to Methone, "My energy is your energy. And, absolutely." In other contexts, his wink might have seemed a little ... too flirtatious, all things considered. But this was part of their game, anyway. He then kept quiet, listening to Methone as she explained more of what was involved. Admittedly, he wasn't entirely sure how purification worked himself, having never witnessed one (or, really, met someone who had been through one). The fact that it would cause pain was unfortunate, but he supposed that made it fortunate that he was there. Transcendence energy transfer could make him useful in more ways than one, even if he needed to go straight to his own comet after all of this. When Methone dropped his hand to offer her hands to Stillwaterite, Encke couldn't help teasing, a glint in his eyes, "Come on in, the water's fine. And besides, you can get a little closer to your eye candy over there after."
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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:24 pm
“Handsome?” He didn’t really mean to actually... blurt that out loud like that, and his face went a little red, as much embarrassed by his flub as the praise itself. It didn’t help that she was looking at him like that, and he fidgeted in response, an unsure, lopsided grin on his face. Methone had known him for about five minutes maybe, and here she already was saying sweet s**t and reassuring him. Enke, too. Same with him. He felt bad about that, too, considering this was Still’s moment and not his. But Eurydike didn’t exactly hate it, either. He squeezed Methone’s hand tentatively in his own, noting the way her glowing markings flowed. “I mean. Mine’s got a s**t ton of salt an’ scorpion-rat-bastards, so I’m not holdin’ my breath there - “ He laughed a little. “But thanks, guys. It’s appreciated.” They had those marks because they had a connection with their planet, like Celsus. - Eurydike honestly didn’t ever expect to have them. His visits to his planet were sporadic and usually in s**t times, and he didn’t really feel ANY bond to it to be honest. If he never went again, he wasn’t sure he’d be missing much. That was kind of beside the point right now. Cosmos. That was a name he knew, and Eurydike nodded along with Methone, already knowing from that what they were basically getting to themselves into. “It’ll be fast. Bright. From our end, it’ll be done in a flash, “ he commented, only hoping it was the same for Still. “My husband didn’t remember anythin’ from it, so - just either way, Still, we’re here for you.” His cheeks burned a bit, and he tried not to, in these last moments, get too caught up in the notion that he’d be forgotten again. New memories could be forged, and had before. He’d been the one to say that to her. But the thought still left him feeling like his chest was in a ******** vice.
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Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 1:44 pm
In her head she could hear it. A tick down of the clock that marked the end of her current existence as she knew it. She knew she was doing the right thing for herself. Knew those around her were excited. Knew it was her choice...but she couldn’t help but wish it felt more right in the moment. Still didn’t say anything when Methone warned it’d hurt. She couldn’t remember her corruption, but what did the threat of pain matter? It was still going to happen.
“I know.” She answered Methone, and hated it a bit when Beringia let go of her hand, but she didn’t hesitate to step forward and take Methone’s hands. Home. No. It didn’t feel like home right now, either, but she hoped in time, it would be. She looked to Eurydike and nodded, grateful for his encouraging words even if she couldn’t find it in her to smile at the moment. The corrupt then turned her attention to Encke, and she stared at him for a long moment, and then...well. She could find some sass to send him off with. “But not as close as you were to your’s with that vacuum pressure. It was a miracle he still had a face to gaze upon after.”
You know---that Encke didn’t suck it right off.
Anyways…
Stillwaterite looked at Methone, and she squeezed the woman’s hands. Thank you. She mouthed, though the words themselves felt inadequate. There would never be enough to say to Methone for everything she had suffered and for everything she had done on her behalf. The corrupt then looked up towards the sky, and did what Methone had told her to do. To hope and to wish for a chance at something better with everything she possessed, and she did.
And she arrived. Cosmos. Still was a mix of emotions upon seeing this being---this person? Presence? Power? Who just appeared before them to purify those who sought it. She expressed her desire to return, for a chance to make amends and set things right of her own volition, and it was granted.
It did hurt. It burned her from the inside out, and for a moment, she had that sense of deja vu like this had happened before---except it had been worse. Far more damaging, and not with the intention to make things right. She didn’t make a sound, but she was somewhat aware of her squeezing Methone’s hands---a solid link as everything around her went white, as everything burned, and within her mind, a clear and distinct snap echoed that severed her from half of her memories. That burn eventually stopped hurting though, and it changed into something warm that enveloped her, before it gradually faded. It changed like she had.
And then it was done.
As white faded back into her surroundings, as she regained her sense of self again, the senshi let go of Methone’s hands. It wasn’t out of a need to push others away, but to just have a few moments to herself, as much as she could. She turned away from the group and taking a few steps, her back to them.
She needed a moment to process everything that was rushing over her. The first feeling that overwhelmed her was this freedom in her mind, and what felt like her very soul. It wasn’t until now that she realized just how tightly Metallia sunk her claws into each agent, how much that malevolent force had been influencing her. Next, came a tightness that gripped her chest, and it was the loss of power. She could feel it. A limitation on her abilities, the lack of teleporting, of everything that had been given to her upon joining the Negaverse, the step down from Eternal to Super---
Wait. This immediately led into her next thought. Her time in the Negaverse---that was all still in tack. She felt immense relief, but yet a sadness at the same time, as she probed her memories and could feel what she had lost. But---she hadn’t forgotten Machine. Bus. Nembus, Encke, Eurydike---others, and the important lessons she had learned along the way. She had first hand memories of that---and now, to fill in the gaps---she had second hand memories. Quickly she mentally ran through reading her journals, and she hastily patched in the holes the best she could for right now.
She didn’t understand how she could feel relieved yet pressed, hopeful yet despair, and joy yet sorrow all at the same time right now.
Sedna looked at her hands.
They still looked the same---except the cuffs of her shirt were white.
She let out a silent but deep breath breath.
It was the first day of the rest of her life, now, and what she did from here was up to her.
Her choice.
She turned back to face her friends, not wanting to keep them waiting much longer, and found herself at a loss as to what to say to them for a moment. What did one say after this upheaval of life? She looked them all over, and then settled her gaze on Encke first.
“Who are you?” Brows lifted, and a moment passed, before she followed up. “Just kidding. I couldn't forget that self-righteous vacuum force mug.” She turned to Eurydike. “I haven’t forgotten you, so you can stop worrying.” She then turned to look at Methone, and then beyond the woman to Beringia.
She gave the siblings something of a brief half smile, and raised her hands, palms up, for a moment before letting them fall to her side.
Here I am.
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 1:24 pm
The call to Cosmos granted Methone a sight she had never seen before. The keeper of the cauldron and the resource they needed to purify Still was very pretty and very calm. She wasted no time in saving Still from her plight and Methone only let go of Still's hand to watch light bathe her, changing her.
There was no more chaos in her body, and she was purged of the darkness, reflecting in aura and her uniform. There was a lot the woman wanted to say but as she stood there, looking at the super senshi, she sighed.
Beringia came to stand by his sister, laying his hand on her shoulder. Methone's hand came to rest upon it and she wanted to allow Encke and Eurydike the proper amount of time to greet the senshi. Unlike Encke, Methone had known this senshi from the start.
With Cosmos's presence gone, the planet felt more peaceful and she smiled as she looked around.
"Lord." Methone waved her hand, "The garters stayed."
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 3:11 pm
Encke quirked a brow, the grin spreading on his face. "Oh, don't worry, he knows how good my vacuum pressure lips are." Did he actually just-- Perhaps it was best that the arrival of Cosmos derailed him before he said anything else. Encke was floored by the energy he felt come over him, and there was a small part of him that heard his father saying that he should bow his head and show some respect. He cleared his throat in an attempt to banish that thought and instead simply stood a bit straighter, holding his hands behind his back as he watched her go to work. Was this the power of Cosmos? The pulsating angry aura of Chaos melted away as the brightness faded, and Encke felt an instinctive sense of relief. Chaos weighed on him even with the energies of Order to balance it out, and the tension that was still lining his body melted away, and Encke let himself take his hands out from behind his back, let his shoulders slump just a bit. And he took in the sight in front of him. So this was ... Sedna. She still had an admiral's coat, he noted. The hat was still the same. The coloration seemed a bit similar too, though he noted she had more colors. At least, it felt like it. The black that had been overwhelming her was gone. Now she had whites, and reds, and silvers, and blues, and honestly everything about it just looked more right even if Encke hadn't seen her before she had been forced to the Negaverse. The bat butt-wings were definitely gone, and they definitely hadn't been replaced with fluffy white ones. Could she recover the loss of power, or was that permanently gone? Would she always be stuck at super? Did it matter? At the very least, she was no longer infected by Metallia, stuck to the whims of the Negaverse, forced into being somewhere she didn't belong. And that was the important part. The who are you didn't necessarily take him by surprise, knowing and expecting that may have been part of the bargain of purification, but then she followed up with the fact that she couldn't forget his vacuum force mug. Ah, there it was. Encke whiffed some air in a habit that was definitely very much a habit of his love's, and opted not to comment on what he had decided to say just before she purified. "Yup, that's definitely still her. Still as saucy as ever." He paused, before saying, sincerely this time, "Looking good. Colors suit you." With a side glance to Methone, he added, smirking, "The garters too."
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 4:46 pm
It was only the second time he'd ever seen Cosmos, but there was a kind of comfort that came with seeing her again - like coming home, or seeing an old friend. Not exactly that, but it was the closest frame of reference Eurydike had for the feeling that washed over him to see her again. He should have taken Emrys with him. He thought it again standing there, longing to have his husband's hand in his own as something to ground him as he watched the scene play out before him. He wanted to say it was since the encounter with Zircon that he'd been fractured, but honestly, it'd been longer than that - he'd just gotten a hell of a lot worse at hiding it. Eurydike desperately wanted to be that strong, unwavering, secure force that people could rely on, especially Rhys. In the moment, he was acutely aware of that. (He should've lit up a cigarette before this started - did Methone permit smoking on Methone? - this whole senshi-planet-name bullshit could definitely get ******** confusing why did no one ever talk about that.) In the end, it was Sedna, not Still left standing there, and Eurydike stopped breathing. It'd been so long since he'd last seen her like this - and her fuku, it'd changed, right? - but it was still her. Her, but not. Her, but who was it? Was it Knot? Was it the senshi who had been Still? Her first comment to Encke felt like a cold punch in the chest, a wave of sickness washing over him - before he realized the b***h was ******** kidding you gotta be ********' shittin' me you - Eurydike was about ready to give her s**t for it, but then she turned and assured him you can stop worrying, and he had been. He'd been ******** terrified, even if he didn't want to acknowledge it. And maybe it was kind of stupid, but no one else was doing it yet, so <******** it honestly. He rushed forward and all but ******** tackled her, hugging her tight and trying not to make an obnoxious sloppy mess all over her shiny new WHITE ******** fuku. He'd give the boyfriend or whatever his fair shot, really - but he hadn't ******** hugged Olga enough, and just - ******** it, she'd deal.
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 5:19 pm
When Methone commented on her garters, Sedna took a moment to actually look down at her uniform. It still felt the same, to a degree, in terms of fit. Fingers reached to touch her waist, where she no longer had wings, and then she touched the garters briefly. "You know you like them, Methone." Sedna replied, and then couldn't help but reach up to touch her braid. Gone were the long tresses that nearly touched the floor. The senshi then looked to Encke. " Thanks." She said dryly, and couldn't help but smirk a bit, briefly, because what? Encke was complimenting her? Also, he would probably wish that she had forgotten her powered memories. She was totally going to hold onto nugget he had said right before she purified. She took it to the bank, and she was going to cash it in when the moment was right. She then looked over just in time to see Eurydike come barreling towards her, and barely caught herself as he wrapped his arms around her. It didn't take long to feel that he was crying, and Sedna couldn't help but look fondly exasperated for a moment as she wrapped her arms around him in return. "Hey Eurydike---" She said, softly. "I think you got something in your eye---" A small pause. " Tears." She patted his back. "Hopefully that will be the last of it for a while." She'd be glad when he wouldn't do that anymore because of her.
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 6:42 pm
With powered memories intact, the northern lights senshi face fell a bit. Unlike Encke (and perhaps Eurydike, she didn't know how close they were), Methone and Beringia had to be prepared for taking her home and watching her power down to not remember them.
It was more heartbreaking for the northern lights senshi because she knew what memory loss would do. She might remember most of her powered memories, but she couldn't remember them all.
It was very complicated feelings for someone who watch a miracle practically happen. "Okay team." She clapped her hands. Miracles weren't often quick and who knew what the difference of time on Methone was compared to home. "We got other things to worry about when we get home." She held out her hands for everyone to take. "Since she's safe, and there is no negaverse, we can return home without fear of retribution."
As much as she wanted to keep them all here, doing such would hurt not only them, but Methone as well. They couldn't live on planets sadly. "I'll take your energy without the mouth sucking vacuum powers handsome." She giggled at Encke, "Unless you'd all like to stay up here."
Beringia waited till Eurydike and Sedna were standing before coming over and laying a gentle hand on her back. Thus the quietest of the group, he would remain so until they were home. His job was to support her, but words were hard to come by in the presence of people he didn't know.
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Codebreaking Conversationalist
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Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2019 7:24 pm
Encke caught the smirk she gave him in turn and his smirk widened into something more akin to a smile. Yes, Encke could give compliments to Sedna. A miracle. He stood back when Eurydike ran at Sedna and practically tackle hugged her, burying his face into her. Honestly, Encke didn't have a chance of imagining how this felt for Eurydike, Methone, or Beringia. He certainly knew Sedna now, had known Stillwaterite, but he hadn't known Sedna before she was Stillwaterite. He was happy to have her on the right side of things, happy to have witnessed the arrival of Cosmos and more of what her magic could do, happy that the Chaos was gone, but it was different for them. This had to felt like getting a friend back from hell. But then, maybe he had more of that perspective than he realized. Maybe it was something akin to seeing-- Deciding that maybe this wasn't the time to consider that--maybe he should pay more attention to what was going on around him--Encke tuned back into the conversation and stepped forward to join Methone. Mouth-sucking vacuum powers. Right. Encke quirked a brow at her as his eyes twinkled. "You sure?" He didn't even really let her get a response in before he took her hand and closed his eyes, focusing. His markings pulsed for a moment before the now familiar feeling of warmth gathered in his palms, and then out, out to Methone.
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