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 Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 5:03 pm
Quote: Entire parts of town are trussed up in banners and stars to commemorate the holiday. You can find them dangling from lampposts, walls, trees--paper stars are everywhere. While this has become common in the past few days, what’s uncommon is how some of them seem to glow at night. While passing through town, more stars seem to light up, guiding you down some strange path. There is an unnatural pull to them, a lull deep in your chest that something just meant for you is waiting at the end. When the path of stars end, what do you find? Someone? Something you lost? The answer to some question you’ve been asking yourself for some time? The stars eventually lose their glow and do not light back up again; any examination yields that they seem to be normal paper.
Quietly, Alpersite slipped the small charm into his subspace pocket and glanced up, pausing as he noticed some of the paper stars that were decorating a tree seemed to be…to be glowing.
Well…that was strange. He hadn’t realized that they had strung up lights too…but…
He stared for another moment, and the tree lights went out, and the next trees stars lit. His brows furrowed slightly and after a moment, the lieutenant began walking in the direction of which stars were glowing, intrigued…and more than a little confused.
As the stars kept glowing, he kept walking, not realizing that there was another powered aura in the area, not realizing that for once, it didn’t feel…wrong.
When he ran into the black clad captain though, then he realized that he hadn’t been paying any lick of attention. “Ah!”
With a cry, he stumbled backwards, and couldn’t help but notice that the stars had all gone out.
Just what could that mean?
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Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 5:34 pm
Lopezite had been aware of a friendly energy signature rising on his radar, and though he knew it was coming close he hadn't realized it was going to be that close.
He had been fiddling with the star charm he'd found while patrolling, absentmindedly watching the fireflies sparkling in the night. He hadn't been watching what was going on; he'd followed some stars here, but even then it had felt like his feet were doing the walking and he was just along for the ride.
And now, someone was walking into him.
He let out a little grunt at the collision and turned to face the Lieutenant, pausing--blinking--and then reaching out a hand to rest on his shoulder to make sure that he didn't fall backwards.
He knew he was wearing dark colors but he hadn't thought he was that hard to see. "Are you all right?" he asked, noting how the Lieutenant looked around as if he'd been distracted--dazed--by something. While Lopezite had been out of it, himself, at least he hadn't walked into someone...
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Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2019 7:08 pm
It was only due to the speed that the stranger grabbed him that kept Alpersite on his feet. He blinked and flashed a grateful smile. “Ah, Yeah I’m all right. Distracted though. The ah…” He pointed up to the nearest tree, where absolutely nothing was glowing at all. “…The stars were um. Glowing. And I figured I should follow them but…now I’m just wondering if I’m going a little bit crazy.”
And yet…here this man was. And he felt…
Strong. Like Sidouer, only the feeling was much more…friendly?
“Who are you?” Alpersite asked, his curiosity piqued. “You feel…like me, I think. I’m still…pretty new at all of this. I’m Alpersite.” He held out a hand, hoping that this second sense wasn’t wrong, hoping that this was indeed someone that he should be introducing himself to. It was all so confusing. All so much to take in.
And Sidouer’s words in his mind didn’t help. All of her talks of secrets and danger and the fact that the two of them shouldn’t be talking. “Look, I’m not going to lie. I’m really new to this, and if you have advice. I’m all ears.”
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Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2019 6:42 am
Lopezite watched him, still seeming a bit curious. His eyes drifted to the tree the Lieutenant had identified and then he glanced back at him slowly when nothing was there.
"Probably not crazy," he tried to assure, but it wasn't with much conviction. He'd seen too many strange things around Destiny City not to trust that the man had seen something--Lopezite just didn't know what.
"Captain Lopezite," he introduced, taking the hand and giving it a firm, friendly shake.
New wasn't necessarily unheard of; he'd been new and come into this with a Captain--a General--who seemed more preoccupied with making themselves look good than they were with training anyone below them. He figured it probably had something to do with them thinking he must be disposable.
"Do you have a Captain, a General, you're under?" he asked after a few seconds, searching the man's face. "Or did you get thrown to the wolves and left to fend for yourself?"
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Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2019 4:31 pm
He was nice, and his calm demeanor made Alpersite relax as well, and smile. “Ah, It’s nice to meet you, Captain, and to answer your question, no, I don’t have a Captain or General who I’m under. I was ah…brought in with the promise that the power would help me locate my brother and I got told how to power up into this, how to power down…not to tell anyone who I was and how to call my weapon.” He shrugged. “Other than that. I’ve been on my own.”
Alpersite looked away for a moment and then back with a wry smile. “Is that…what happened to you? I have to admit…I feel completely lost. I’m not sure that I understand…anything. And I met a really, really nice girl…but she feels different than you. Because…obviously people feel like things in this life…” He chuckled, hoping he didn’t sound crazy again. “…That’s normal isn’t it? But. She’s…my friend. Though she acts like we’re supposed to be enemies so…”
He paused, reaching to play with the end of his braid. “Acted, I should say. She was nicer on our second meeting. But…I kind of feel like I’m doing something wrong. She felt wrong the second time, that was when I really noticed the whole… feeling people thing. What do you think I should do?”
Lopezite was obviously stronger than him. And he knew more about what was going on…so it would be good to befriend him, at least…that was what his instincts were saying.
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Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 8:45 pm
Lopezite frowned and turned to face him a little more. "Sounds like you got brought into this in nearly the same way I did. I'm starting to think that's just how they run things around her." He exhaled and then shook his head. "I had very little instruction, myself. But I'm more than happy to answer any of your questions."
It sounded like he had a lot to deal with right now, anyway.
"The girl you met. What was she, a Senshi, or a Knight?" he prompted, hands on his hips. "Depending on what sort of power they have, they have a different feeling. You and I, we're the same, we're both in the Negaverse. There are others--Dark Mirror Senshi, they're allies. Sort of." He rubbed the back of his neck. "...I'd trust them more than I'd trust the others, at least. What did you two talk about--what was she saying?"
He was curious, making a mental checklist of all the questions he suddenly had to ask. He wanted to know more about this girl, what faction she was from, what rank she was, what she was feeding him.
He wanted to know more about his brother--and if he'd found him yet.
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Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2019 8:06 am
“A…senshi or a knight? I’m not...” Familiar with either of those names? He thought that the General who awoke him may have mentioned something about them, but it was vague and he hadn’t understood what was being said. Alpersite tried to keep the blatant confusion off of his face and finished. “…really sure what the difference between those are…or um. What they are at all, if you want the honest truth, so I’m not sure. Her name is Sidouer though, and she’s…wonderful.”
It dawned on him after he said her name, that perhaps that hadn’t been such a good idea. What if this Lopezite hurt her? Hunted her down and…and hurt her?
The lieutenant’s mouth had gone dry and he tried to clear his throat, tried to think of something else to say, something…that would hopefully get his mind off of her name. “Oh…she just…said that…you know. The um. War was…bad. And other things. That’s really all. What is the Negaverse anyway? I…didn’t get any instruction, and…I’ve never heard about any Dark Mirror Senshi…I…I guess I don’t know much of anything at all, do I? That’s…that’s bull crap, honestly. Why would someone drag me into this huge thing and just…leave me to sink or swim? Is that how it was with you?”
He was talking fast, flinging his questions at the male. “What happened with you?”
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Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2019 5:08 am
Lopezite stared for a second as realization crossed his face; he found himself nodded quickly. "Oh, I see."
He didn't seem too occupied with the name Alpersite let slip but he filed it to the back of his mind to draw back on should he ever need it. "I ought to report your General for negligence. You should come with me," he gestured for Alpersite to walk with him. "I'll go over everything with you. And if we don't get it all covered tonight, or if you think of more questions, I'll make sure you've got my phone number."
As he walked, he crossed his arms over his chest and debated how best to explain. "The difference between Senshi and Knights are their powers, and a bit of how they fight. Knights have a weapon of some sort--not ever like ours, not that I've seen, but they've got magic unlike anything I've ever unlocked for myself. Senshi have no weapon, but they're all magic. Knights are typically aligned with a planet--so once you start meeting enough, you can pick up who comes from where, and you can sort of guess what their magic might be like. I haven't met enough to have a solid idea of it all, but I do know that Senshi are far more unpredictable. They have spheres of power that their magic seems to revolve around, but if they don't tell you what that sphere is--or if they lie--there's really no guessing. Senshi and Knights sort of thing we're the scum of the Earth, but they can't see the bigger picture," he sighed.
He slid his hands into his pockets and continued, "I didn't ask to be brought into it, and perhaps I'm not the most active, but I hit my quotas, I do my job. Everyone's got their own reason for joining, for fighting--you're looking for your brother? Have you found him, yet?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2019 4:29 pm
Alpersite nodded and followed after Lopezite, figuring that even if it was a bad decision…he ought to have a mentor in all of this. There was no use going around an ignorant fool.
“Oh…that…that’s pretty interesting…and those are the ones…who are against us? The ones who are supposed to be our enemies? I have a um…weapon. But we’re not knights?”
He summoned his butterfly wand and pressed the button to light it up, both amused and annoyed by it still. “Though I suppose that I’m still not sure why this was what I was given…it seems almost like it’s nothing more than a cruel joke. How do they expect us to do anything with...with garbage like this? I’ve been told that this is a war…and this was what they gave me to fight with?”
The lieutenant glanced up at the dark haired captain and shook his head, sighing and letting his hands fall limply to his sides. “No. Not yet. I keep hoping though. And I figure…one of these days…I’ll find him. One of these days…I’ll be able to know that he’s safe at home. And honestly? That’s all that really matters to me right now.”
He hesitated a moment. “…You said they can’t see the bigger picture? What…is the bigger picture?”
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Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2019 6:33 pm
"They're the ones that are against us," he nodded. "We're different from Knights, but similar in that sense. That we both have weapons. Though, ours are much better." He held out his hand and his scimitar appeared. He unsheathed it to showcase it but after a few seconds returned it to the sheath and hooked it to his belt.
"Yours will get better," he promised. "With more power you'll be trusted with more. My weapon used to be just this." He tapped the sheath. "Not very useful in battle, trust me. I think it's...a training experience, but no one really explains it. To be honest," he shrugged, "I think it's to discourage getting into fights at your rank. It's so hard to predict or defend against your opponents. I think if everyone had a sword, they'd think they knew how to use it and would wind up getting themselves hurt--or killed. Right now you should be focused on getting information--learning your skills. And," he nodded to the butterfly wand. "Getting creative. I don't know what weapon you'll wind up getting, but whatever you can do to practice with that, do it. Maybe, when you have some free time, we'll spar. My scabbard against your wand."
He flashed a grin but he wasn't just teasing; it seemed like a genuine offer.
"There's a lot I'll have to tell you. It's not as easy as a simple answer--but again, this is the best time to learn. The bigger picture is that this world doesn't just belong to Senshi and Knights, and they don't have any right to tell us what we can and can't do. The Negaverse..."
He was quiet for a moment and then said, "Sometimes it takes drastic measures. But they're not bad. At least, I don't think so. But...wouldn't you do anything, to keep the people you care about safe?" His eyes were on Alpersite's. "...Wouldn't you do anything to find your brother?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2019 11:49 am
Alpersite seemed to be thinking all of this through, quietly trying to compartmentalize all of the information he was being given. So…Sidouer was more than likely…someone who was against him, hm? He supposed that was why she felt…off when he was around her…and why she continued to hold herself so aloof but…
But he wondered how much that really mattered.
“You really think it will get better? I honestly…can’t quite fathom what such a thing could even become…what…what made them give me this toy? At least…” He let soft lavender eyes take in the scabbard and sighed. “At least yours could have been explained away by the fact that…perhaps you misplaced the sword? Or perhaps…you just…didn’t trust yourself with it? But what do I say? Oh, they thought it would match my eyes? It would look good with my outfit?”
Alpersite looked back up at the Captain and nodded, smiling slightly now. “You’d do that? I…I’d like that. I could use some help. A lot of it, honestly. And for your last question, yes. I would do anything to keep the people I care about safe. And I would do anything to find my brother. He…he’s the only family that I have contact with right now. And I need to know that he’s safe. I need to make sure he stays safe…”
As for his talk of the bigger picture...he couldn't...really comment on that. The only example he had was Sidouer, and she didn't seem to think that the world belonged to her...so...for now, that would just stay in the back of his mind.At least until he had more knowledge of all of this.
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Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2019 3:33 pm
Lopezite flashed him a small smile. "Of course I mean that. I'm not going to just abandon you. I'll look after you, don't worry about that at all. And I'll try to help you find your brother, too. I know what it can be like to have someone you care about just disappear."
He was quiet for a little while and then just smiled softly. "All you can do is hope they come back to you, and look for them with all your heart."
He shook his head though, as if to chase away a thought. "Don't be too hard on your weapon, for now. I'm sure it's got some purpose. We'll have to work to get you stronger. I'm very interested to see what it grows into now," he confessed. "But don't put too much thought into why it is what it is. Just focus on how you can use it to make you stronger. For example, mine doesn't light up. Never has, and probably never will. I'm sure there's some way to make use of that--or scare someone into thinking it's going to do something they should be afraid of."
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Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2019 7:08 pm
Alpersite smiled softly. “I appreciate it. I truly do.”
It was a relief to know that…perhaps he had someone who could honestly help. And he had someone who seemed as though he would be willing to actually help to find December.
“I’ll try to not be so hard on the weapon, but it’s a little difficult…though…”
The lieutenant looked down at it almost fondly. “I suppose…you’re right. It’s not so bad. And I hadn’t thought about the lights, that’s creative. I’m glad that I followed the stars. Meeting you has…helped me relax a little, I think. Not that I was too uptight…just a little lost. Confused.”
He hesitated. “I’m still lost. And still confused…but I have you to help now so. Not as much. It’s nice.”
It was good to follow the stars, Alpersite decided suddenly. And he would do it again if given the chance.
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