Welcome to Gaia! ::

At first, Sidouer wasn’t sure if she had incredibly good luck or bad luck when powering up in the vicinity of a chaos signature. Tonight, like the previous nights, she was out for the sole purpose of hunting youma. Some evenings it could take hours to find one, assuming she found one at all.

However, only once the signature began to move in her direction did she realize that the aura was distinctly different and belonged not to a weaker feral youma, but rather a lieutenant instead. Ironically enough, one that she had met not even a month ago.

“Alpersite,” his name rolled off her tong as if he had been a long time friend as opposed to the enigma he was. A Negaverse agent who renders aid to a White Moon senshi. Doesn’t sound so far fetched after being friends with Acrucis, but it was strange just the same.

Sidouer’s head canted to the side curiously as he approached. “Any luck finding your brother?”

Sidouer’s facial expression went from concerned to wary before finally settling on an amused look in the matter. She had, as a matter of factly, distinctly remembered him mentioning something about a quilt when they first met and at the time she had brushed it off as a random comment; a new pick-up line that she simply didn’t get. But it seemed he was serious in what he said and acted on his idea.

“Thank you,” She stepped forward a bit hesitantly and reached out to accept the handcrafted quilt. “It’s very beautiful, thank you.”

Holding it up by two corners she took in the pattern and the colors he had chosen. Surprisingly enough Alpersite had gotten very close considering they had only met the one time and it, like now, was dark outside. “It’s been a long time since anyone has ever given me a gift let alone something that was hand crafted.”

“You have a true talent.” With care, Sidouer folded the blanket over her arm.

“Relax,” Sidouer placed a hand on the lieutenant’s shoulder, hoping that the weight of it would at least ground him a bit. If not then perhaps it would calm his nerves so they could have a bit of a normal conversation.

The rapid topic change was a bit disorientating but she could definitely relate to the need to preoccupy his mind and, or, keep his hands busy. She had gone through the same thing when communication with her brother was put on hold for military reasons.

“I appreciate the offer for another blanket, I do.” She smiled gently at him. “But before you start throwing more gifts at someone, you might want to learn a bit about them. You might find that they don’t quite fit the narrative you’ve built for them.” Her expression became a bit apologetic but it was true.

They were supposed to be enemies; she had fought against agents just like him, dusted youma they controlled, yet here they were having a casual conversation. But what should be and what was didn’t always mesh which is why Sidouer felt somewhat reluctant leaving just yet.

Her gradient colored eyes drifted down to the weapon he held, a word she used loosely because it seemed more like a child’s toy. “I mean no offense, But it looks like it belongs in a toy box.”

Sidouer watched him thoughtfully. The barest of smiles gracing her otherwise pale features.

How long had it been since someone had shown any care about her happiness? Weeks… Months… Honestly, she had stopped counting since her last encounter with Jasper sometime last year. In a single moment, he had made her the happiest she had ever been then tore it from her just as quickly.

For some, it was less painful to rip the metaphorical bandaid off quickly. Perhaps, for him, it was the only way to bring himself to say goodbye but in the wake of it all she had been left beyond broken, in a daze where one day just melded into the next. And yet, here she stood beside an agent who, if in their right mind, should loathe her for simply being on the opposite faction.

A part of her wanted to show her appreciation by giving him a hug or at the very least give his hand a gentle squeeze yet her legs felt as if they were rooted in cement and arms were weighted by iron shackles tethered to the ground. Instead, Sidouer tilted her head back to gaze up at the sky. Why is it so difficult to accept another's kindness? she wondered to herself knowing in her heart it was because, over time, she had become cynical towards others actions; assuming that there were ulterior motives.

Perhaps… perhaps he might be different. Jade-pink colored eyes came to rest on the Lieutenant again when he began to talk about a promotion.

“In self-defense perhaps.” The thought of him intentionally hurting anyone was a bit off-putting but then again who was she to judge. It wasn’t too long ago that she hip threw a corrupt across a parking lot but it wasn’t as if the was looking to fight either.

“I don’t know what they require of you in order to get a promotion. But I have to wonder, if you happen to find your brother will you continue to power up and serve the Negaverse?” They were supposed to be a resource for him to use in order to find his younger sibling. But in exchange for their service, what debt would he then owe them in return?

“Honestly, it’s not really a matter of if I would want you to or not.” Though in truth the sentiment did cause a light blush to sweep across her face even if he couldn’t see it under the moonlit sky.

Sidouer hugged the blanket to her chest. “I’m not well known by any faction for it to be of any use to you if you encounter another White Moon Senshi or one of the Knights.” It was both a good an bad thing. On one hand, it meant she wasn’t on any kill on sight list that she was aware of but it also meant that she had no allies to fall back on either. The exception being Acrucis but her morals kind of got in the way at times.

“You have a kind heart Alpersite. I just worry that this General will try to corrupt you further or ask you to steal someone starseed as atonement for his aid.” A life for a life as some would say. Help in locating his brother in exchange for the starseed of an enemy. In some sense, it may be seen as a justifiable exchange but murder was still murder whether or not there was a body left behind.

A pang of guilt struck her in an odd sort of way that forced Sidouer’s gaze to fall to an arbitrary spot on the ground. It lingered there in some time as if she were searching for the answer to a question she had not asked.

In truth, it was nice to actually have a conversation with someone where she didn’t really have to walk on eggshells. Ever cautious of what she says or does. Her cousin had come over on several occasions to make sure she was ok but then again he was family.

Alpersite, on the other hand, was an enigma. The only things she had learned of him were that he was devoted to finding his younger brother and he had a true talent for quilting. At first, he came off a bit strong but after running into him for a second time his feelings seemed genuine. “I don’t think you’re a monster. I’m just-” For a moment she paused to carefully open that metaphorical door that had been deadbolted, chained shut and barricaded for the last several months.

“This war has taken a lot from me. I’ve learned from my experiences that the moment I allow myself to hope for something even as simple as a friendship; that too gets taken away.”

Persephone was corrupted, by force or choice she really wasn’t sure but one day they were meeting together for the first time as a team and then all hell broke loose and she was gone.

Phact had simply moved on without her. Together they were building a court; a small group of younger senshi for the Senshi of Doves to take the mantle and lead them. But then Sidouer had just inexplicably got removed from the team without word nor warning. They were supposed to meet at a theme park to get to know each other but after an hour of waiting nobody showed up. The Senshi of Static wasn’t stupid enough not to take the hint that she wasn’t welcome though she really wasn’t sure who she pissed off in the group to get uninvited. Not that it really mattered anyway, water under the bridge, or so the saying went.

Acrucis, on the other hand, had become more of an acquaintance than a friend. The one time she needed the Senshi of Prayer’s magic to help someone close to her who had been severely injured in a vehicle accident, unfortunately, the blue-clad senshi was unwilling to help. In hindsight, Acrucis was wise in her decision but at the time Sidouer felt abandoned in her time of need. They had made amends but the scar between them still remained.

“I’m sorry, I would enjoy meeting with you again.” But his naiveness may very well get himself killed. “Just, promise you’ll start asking questions so you know exactly what is, or will be, asked of you. If there is anything you can tell me about your brother I will do my best to keep an eye out for him for you.”

Sidouer looked at him thoughtfully and considered his question carefully.

Thinking back on it, her reason to smile had been lost a long while ago when Jasper got into the vehicle accident that injured his shoulder. He had changed so much since then, as did the dynamic of their friendship, that happy days were few and far in between. Much of her time had been spent trying to help with his recovery, assist with some chores here and there so he didn’t strain his injury.

In the end, it had been all for naught.

From time to time she found herself thinking about him and even went as far as to scroll through the contacts on her phone until her thumb hovered over his name; but in the end her cowardness reigned supreme and she turned it off before she did something stupid and upset him for something as stupid as showing concern.

“I’d be happy if I didn’t have to keep lying about who, or what, I am to those I care about.” Only her brother and cousin really knew of the things she had seen and done; Hannah and Delilah as well but even so the number of people were limited. “But I suppose being able to talk to someone who understands the difficulty, and reasons, why it is necessary would do just as well.” While she would never be able to go out and get a cup of coffee, or something to eat, with Alpersite, it didn’t mean they couldn’t bring their own.