|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:49 pm
Remarque spent a decent amount of his free time in Mirrorspace; he'd been good about balancing work and family life and he and Raven had worked out a fine routine that let him do what Mirror duties he needed to tend to while making sure everyone else was all right.
They'd been happy for a long time now, but he couldn't get over the fact how quickly things changed. Or, really, how quickly children grew.
He didn't go out as often as he usually did, but it just meant that he worked twice as hard. Things were changing at the antique store and he had worked very hard to adjust his schedule to make sure that he was running things effectively. But all that office work meant that sometimes he had to get out and stretch his legs, and this was better than any job around Destiny City.
He'd just come out of some mirror, back into the main hub of all of Mirrorspace; he'd spent an hour in there but there was something particularly disorienting about the labyrinth he'd just taken his stroll in. He wasn't sure if he'd been ready to go home or if he just needed a chance of scenery--or, at least, as much as Mirorrspace could give.
But then, he'd take a change of company as well.
You didn't run into Dark Mirror Senshi in Mirrorspace often, if only because it never seemed to have a plan and never seemed to want to send two people to the same location. It was just good timing that as he walked in, he spotted a familiar face.
"Kibirev," he greeted; he hadn't quite forgotten how things had gone with Altea, but she was still here in the Court and he wasn't going to make an enemy of her. Not when they all had questions.
...And anyway, if Altea wasn't destroyed, it might be best to have someone she liked to play messenger. Just in case.
He raised a hand in greeting and approached casually, like he might any old friend. "Long time no see. I like the new look, how's that new power been treating you?"
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:51 pm
Kibirev wasn’t entirely sure why she was in mirrorspace. Part of her wanted to find one of the crystals that she had found before, but there was another almost nagging part of her that wanted…or hoped that she would find some trace of Altea. She would take anything at this point…but would really love another dress.
Or the woman herself.
She felt the stronger aura before she saw the one who held it, and looking up, she hoped to see Acubens there. It wasn’t…because why would any of her hopes ever be realized, but at the sight of Remarque she swallowed slightly.
Miss Lesath’s husband.
Quickly she wracked her brain, trying to draw back the memories of the one time she had a conversation with him…hoping that he too would forgive her for…her conduct. Even if it had been the right thing to do. “Oh…Remarque. Hi. Yeah I…a cat decided I had earned it…and I guess I questioned it for a while but. Not anymore.” She shuffled her feet and swallowed, eyes finally sinking to the floor. “Um…How’s Miss Lesath and Chloe? Was her name Chloe? Is she still braiding hair?”
…Could she still come over to meet her?
Could they please become friends?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:52 pm
"Oh, they're great," he nodded; he was used to giving updates. "Chloe's gotten so big, I still can't believe it. Especially compared to her sister. Who, thankfully, is still small. But also getting so big. Eloise, she'll be a year in a few months now. But we're all doing good," he promised. "Chloe's gotten so good at braiding that she isn't even tying knots anymore.
He wore a lazy, proud smile. "Lesath's as charming and beautiful as ever. Those colors look good on you, you keep it up and you'll have wings soon, won't you?"
He gestured to his own offhandedly. "Personally, I think they get in the way," he grumbled. "But I guess if you want the power, you just have to deal with it. How are you doing?" He looked her over; she looked healthy, she wasn't sporting any terrible cuts or scrapes or bruises so he hoped things were treating her well enough.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:53 pm
Who was Eloise? Chloe had a sister?
“You had another baby?” The words were blurted out before Kibirev could really stop them, and the sheer excitement that filled them made her almost feel embarrassed. “Are they cute? Do you have pictures? I want to see them, Remarque!” She looked suddenly excited and just as suddenly, terribly embarrassed.
“Oh, jeeze. I’m…I mean, of course the colors look good on me…they were obviously made for me…and…you think I’ll level up again soon? That I’ll be like you?”
The thought pleased her, and for a moment she tried to imagine what she’d look like…and how she’d act when she was as strong as him and Miss Lesath and Acubens… “…Do you really think…that’ll happen?” Did she deserve to have it happen was a better question, but as she thought about it…she was almost leaning towards a ‘yes’. Kibirev had been working to form better relationships with her fellow senshi…and she would continue to do so if she could…but.
“I don’t know if I’m physically strong enough for that, Remarque. Could you help me to get stronger?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:53 pm
Remarque looked at her now, with a sense of growing pride. Naturally he was soft on anyone who thought is babies were the best things in the world, but this fatherly pride was something he had just accepted as a part of himself, now.
"Of course it'll happen, and of course I'll help you."
He wasn't the type of person to say no to a member of his Court, not if they wanted to get stronger and be better. Not if they seemed as sweet and enthusiastic as Kibirev. He couldn't blame her for anything that happened while they were trapped in Mirrorspace; everyone was starting to go a little stir crazy. No one had a 'right' way to deal with being kidnapped and help prisoner in some strange castle with some queen that was losing her goddamned mind and--
Yeah, he didn't really need a trip down memory lane. That was then, this was now.
"Have you done any training recently? Picked up any fighting styles, or anything? --I remember your magic. Rolled the tenseness right out of my muscles. Felt like I woke up refreshed, really calm and peaceful. My magic," he shrugged dismissively. "Strings and all. So I rely on my fists. Back in the day, I used to box. Was my go to. Still is, but now I don't go in the ring so much. Lesath doesn't want a guy with a busted up face," he laughed, but couldn't help but add, "Not that I ever got busted up so much." He winked, confident as ever. "You work out or anything?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:54 pm
The way he was looking at her made Kibirev want to try harder. He looked at her as though…she were worthwhile. And it made the girl smile brightly suddenly. “No, I haven’t really…fought but…oh! My brother…he…he’s part of the court now, so I was trying to train him to use his magic, and mine has gotten stronger…I’ve been using it more…I stopped someone from having a panic attack with it and saved myself from some rampaging jerk who thought I was hurting his brother…which…I mean I wasn’t…but I was gathering a little energy from him…with his permission of course!”
She looked happy, thinking about Adria. “I met a really, really nice senshi, he’s not…in the court but…he’s my friend. And That’s okay…isn’t it?”
Quickly she looked to the older male, hesitant. “…I want it to be okay. I don’t want to not be his friend. He means too much to me.”
Kibirev shrugged. “I mean…if it’s not…I’m not going to change my ways. Because um. I control my own future and you can’t stop me…so…come on, Remarque. Teach me how to punch people and not start crying because of it. I want to be tough. Tougher. Like those teddy bears that have the evil faces when you squeeze them. I know I won’t get much tougher than that.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:55 pm
Remarque seemed surprised. “Your brother’s a senshi too? Congratulations, we’ll have to have a nice welcome party, and a celebration for you. Dinner or something one night, you’ll have to tell me what you two like.”
He was still smiling at her, seeming rather pleased. “Make friends where you can. You never know when you need to have someone to have your back. I’ve got white moon friends. Knights, Negas. You have to take care of yourself, we all walk different paths.” He grinned at her. “I like that you were ready to fight about it. Give yourself some credit, though. You only need one good hit to knock them down. And you have the advantage—you’re cute, they won’t be expecting one from you. You ever hit anything before?” He held up his hand. “Punch it, as hard as you can. Let me see what we’re working with.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:56 pm
“He is! His name is Arnica and he’s the Senshi of Mandragora, maybe I can have dinner with you guys sometime or you could start helping him to fight…I don’t ever want him getting hurt.” Kibirev hesitated, and gave a little smile. Remarque was strong. If anyone could help the both of them get stronger it was him.
She sighed when he told her to punch his hand. “I’m really…not good with punching, but I am very glad you don’t think that having my friend is a bad thing…it makes me feel a bit better honestly.”
His hand was there, large and mocking her and Kibirev made a face before curling her hand into a fist. “You know…I’m warning you right now, if you laugh at how pathetic my punch is…I’m going to just use my magic on you and disappear forever, you have had fair warning…because it’s going to be pathetic.”
Drawing her arm back, Kibirev let out a slight cry and punched the hand with as much effort and power that she could.
It was still almost nothing.
But she tried.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:57 pm
Remarque let out a whistle when her fist collided with his hand; he nodded after a few seconds. "You've got good aim. Most people miss the first time they throw a punch. And, trust me--aim is something not everyone will ever be able to perfect. The power behind the punch, now that's something anyone could take care of? But if you can't hit anything, that's a problem. But you're doing good so far. Honestly, some push ups, some barbells--if you wanted to build muscle, you could. Alternatively, you can know where to aim."
He shifted positions and took a somewhat wide stance, only a few feet in front of her. "Stand like this. It helps distribute your weight more evenly. If you're trying to stand your ground--or bluff that you know what you're doing--do this. It makes it harder to knock you down. Means you can take a hit without toppling over. Also helps you keep your defenses up."
He gave her a few seconds to take his position and, even when he figured she was moving to match, continued, "Ball your hand up like this, to make a fist." He held up his hand to show her, explaining again, "When you have to punch someone, you have to be careful of your thumb. If it's in the wrong place--if you're making a fist wrong--you can break it. But do it like this and you don't have to worry about it. So go on, let me see," he instructed again. He seemed patient--certain, because he knew what he wanted and how he wanted this to go, but he didn't try to rush her, didn't try to push her beyond what he knew her limits to be.
He wanted her to get stronger every bit as much as she wanted to.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:57 pm
Her nose wrinkled at the very idea of building muscle and Kibirev gave Remarque a look that said, quite plainly that she thought he was crazy. “I think…” She said slowly, not wanting to outright offend him but, clearly not enjoying the idea. “I think that I’m better off not…getting muscles…I look cute now, I don’t want to look buff and…gross…”
The standing thing…she could stand better, and she hesitated, moving her feet to match his. It didn’t seem so difficult, though the pose made her feel just a bit wobbly.
“Is this right, Remarque?” Just because she didn’t want to get buff…didn’t mean she wasn’t going to at least listen to his advice. He gave good advice, she was sure. “I’m…my thumb? How could it break your thumb?” It wasn’t something she had heard of before and she held her fist up to show him. “Like this? Will it break my thumb if it’s like this?”
This was all new. And it was almost exciting. Sure…she still didn’t want to fight…and she knew she could rely on her magic to help her but…she supposed that at least knowing how to throw a punch might be useful. Someday.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:59 pm
Remarque just laughed softly. "I'm not talking body building muscles. I just mean making sure your muscles are awake and functioning to the best of their ability. You can still look cute and know how to use your body." He laughed again, shaking his head.
He took a step forwards and examined her fist; he took her hands and shifted them to help make a better first and gave an approving nod. "Do it like that, it'll hit harder and be safer for you. So far so good. The next most important thing is knowing how to throw a punch. Your short enough that a good uppercut could really knock someone off their feet for you. So I'm going to show you two, all right?"
He resumed his position a few feet away from her and took the same stance he'd held. "Uppercut," he said, and demonstrated a swift punch upwards. He repeated the gesture a few times just to make sure she'd gotten the chance to see how he moved. "And a hook." This time, he drew his arm back and threw a slightly curved punch. He repeated the gesture again, slower, and explained, "It's not just the punch though. So even if you don't have the muscle mass, remember that the power comes from your whole body. Your hips play an important role in this--it stabilizes you. If you've got good enough grounding you can still be the tiniest person and pack a punch good enough to knock someone off their feet. Or, out, if you're lucky. I want you to try those on me, aim for my hand again. If you miss..."
He was quiet for a second.
"Look, just try not to break my nose, that's the only thing I can't fix, all right?"
He flashed a smile for good measure but braced himself all the same.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:59 pm
Kibirev’s lips were pursed as she watched his demonstration, she had been excited to try things out…at least until his last comment. Break his nose. What would happen if she did break his nose? Would he kill her? Break her nose in return? Throw her down some long, shifting hallway deep inside of mirrorspace as punishment?
The worry in her eyes only grew the more she thought of it but she nodded, swallowing hard. “Oh…okay. Just look. If I break your nose, I want to make sure you won’t kill me or torture me or anything…it’s an accident if it happens and…I’m just going to say that I’m sorry now and…hope that covers anything that I might accidentally do.”
She let out a long breath and forced her suddenly stiff feet back into the position that was best and kept her eyes trained on Remarque’s hand.
But they kept flickering up to his face. His nose.
Oh god she was going to break his nose.
Kibirev curled her hand into a fist and moved her arm, trying to emulate the hook, it looked so good and…when her hand hit the solid middle of the male’s palm, she let out a sigh of utter relief.
“Oh god, I didn’t break your nose!”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 11:01 pm
Remarque laughed. "I'm sorry, were you really that worried about it? You had good aim before, remember? You're two for two now, you're doing great. That was a good, solid punch there," he praised.
"Got a good sting going. When you head home, keep practicing. Even if you're not building up any muscles or anything, the muscle memory is going to be what really helps you. You'll have a stronger punch when you're more confident. So let's try that again."
He opened his hand again and held it out from his body. "Don't worry about missing, about hitting my face. If you do, you do. I'm not going to torture you or kill you. I'm gonna go home and ice my nose if you hit me hard enough. So go on--give this one all you've got. You've got my permission to hit as hard as you can."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 11:02 pm
Kibirev swallowed hard and nodded. “All right…well…if you’re not going to kill me…then I won’t worry so much…”
She was beginning to tremble though, and as she drew back her arm again, she missed the hand completely, though thankfully there was enough realization of what was going to happen and Kibirev managed to miss the nose, though her fist collided with his cheek at almost full speed, and then she seemed to fall apart.
“Oh! I’m sorry! I…I wasn’t…You said when I was confident and I guess maybe I was trying to be and not hit your nose but I didn’t hit your nose and…”
She swallowed, looking close to tears. “…Are you okay?” This was it. She hadn’t hit his nose but now he would never teach her again…and she would be doomed for all eternity.
“I’m so sorry, Remarque…”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 11:02 pm
Truthfully, Remarque had been so confident that she was going to hit his hand that he hadn't expected that she would miss. He hadn't braced himself as much as he should have, so when she knocked him in the cheek he fell back a step. Instinctively, his hand went to his cheek to grave the afflicted area.
"Damn," he said, honestly stunned.
The skin was red and hot and he wouldn't have been surprised if there was a bruise. He wasn't mad, though; a bruised cheek was fine. Hell, he could cover that up with makeup if he was too worried about it, but it wasn't like he was trying to impress anyone. He didn't have any important business meetings, nothing he had to really worry about.
"--See what I mean?" he asked, instead. "All it takes is one good hit, you take your opponent by surprise. And, combined with your magic? You've got a real advantage, Kibi."
He rubbed at his cheek again. "That was a good hit. Two for three still isn't bad, not for your first time. I'm impressed. You pack some pretty decent power."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
