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 Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2020 8:42 am
Unusual activity, even that considered to be 'paranormal' was routine for him. Those who generally made panicked phone calls were normally found unharmed. This wasn't a slight against those who were genuinely scared, if a person was spooked in the street at night and felt they were at risk then they should absolutely call for help. However, more often than not Regula found himself in the same set of streets, talking to the same set of questionable individuals about the exact same thing as the previous evening.
This evening was no exception, he'd been called out by a concerned bystander. A welfare call as it were, one that involved trudging down the same street, to the same spot, to the same set of benches he always found himself at. If he found himself in front of the same person again then he wouldn't be terribly surprised. When it came to alcoholics, drug addicts and those who were simply down on their luck, a police officer came to know those faces much more easily than a normal citizen.
He pocked the edge of his glove underneath his coat sleeve as he strode down the street. With the exception of the clicking of the equipment strapped to his belt, the air remained still. It would have been quite peaceful all things considered and had it not been for the fiendish bite of cold air, quite pleasant as well. Nevertheless he had a job to do and his lips pursed into a thin line as he drew closer to the bench that had been specifically mentioned.
Something was amiss.
He paused midstep, one foot partially raised so only his heel touched on the ground as he surveyed his immediate surroundings and lifted a brow. While welfare callouts were hardly unusual, what was strange was the lack of people. More often than not these 'people' congregated, they had their own communities and formed their own bonds. Sure they were troublemakers, they were known, but it was rare that they were categorically alone... And yet as he took a measure of the area he noted that absolutely no one was here.
His brows furrowed and he chose to proceed with caution.
While his gut may sense something out of sorts he still had a job to do, he'd just have to be mindful while he did it.
"Y-you..." Someone stepped out from one of the alleys, shaken, but recognisable to him. He was a local on this street but this wasn't what Regula would have referred to as his usual spot either.
"Me," Regula confirmed, though he knew the initial interruption hadn't been to confirm his own identity.
"Don't go down there," the man warned as he shifted his gaze quickly towards what lay beyond and then back to Regula. "Not safe," he added. It was at this point that Regula noted he was wringing his hands and more importantly, that he had none of his things with him. Now that was something to consider a problem, this particular subset of the community never left their things behind. Whatever had disturbed him and the others had clearly been significant enough to spook them into leaving their prized possession behind.
"What happened?" He'd bite, though his questions would need to be specific. If he wasn't careful there'd be rambling and several non-answers.
"Came out of nowhere, just out of 'is tent," A rapid head shake followed. "Ripped 'im clean apart."
What?
Regula did well to school his expression into something neutral as the man continued to speak, but from what the police officer could gather, something had turned hostile and very quickly. Based on existing descriptions it sounded like one of the dogs had taken a turn for the worse and someone had paid the price... except that didn't add up with the report that had been called through to him.
The warnings continued for several moments longer before Regula nodded, it was his job to secure an area and based on the current description of what might be over there (true or otherwise), he was equipped to take it.
Nevertheless with two conflicting reports of what had happened and what had been seen, Regula continued as he had previously elected to. He moved with caution, lifting his hand to unclip the gun from his belt. For now the safety would remain on, but it was better to have it to hand rather than to fumble when he needed it most if the occasion arrived.
A couple of minutes more of walking and he did see what he was looking for, the specific bench that had been outlined on the report and someone was slumped on it. This was a relief, at the very least that information had been correct, but that still didn't explain why everyone had fled from the slumped figure's immediate radius. With no further signs of life nearby he drew closer to the figure who gave every indication that they were asleep.
...At the very least the rise and fall of the chest seemed to imply they were breathing.
In the dimly lit street it was difficult to make out all of the finer details on the figures form, but around the mouth seemed fine, there had been no indication of blood or foam and the face itself looked largely intact. He either had a drunkard on his hand or someone with a potential overdose but they didn't look like they were in immediate danger.
He reached out with his left hand to give the gentleman a firm nudge, however before he had the opportunity to do so, the eyes opened.
Well, not the eyes he expected to open. Oh no, something shifted from the depths of the slumped form's chest and from the tears in the shirt, milky eyes stared back. The sound that came from beneath the shirt could only be described as the sound of a liquid-like tear, that very same sound made when one tore open an apple with their bear hands.
Several steps were taken back as the 'figure' took Regula in and then it began to move, lumbering and unsteady at first, but there was no guarantee it would remain that way.
Unsurprisingly the gun was raised, the safety came off and soon after the entity lurched forward.
Several gunshots rang out into the darkened street...
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Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2020 7:20 pm
... It was strange...
These days, an ever present loneliness could constantly be felt, weighing down on the old mauvian. Days would pass by with little notice beyond the need to find somewhere warm to settle for the night. It was hard to even bother to allow himself to wake when the sound of scampering feet would come, angry dogs or ravenous youma sniffing him out and driving him out of whatever little safe spot he came across.
Whatever duties as a Mauvian he had, they were neglected more and more son as the time passed.
He was old. And tired.... And lonely beyond comprehension.
And yet he did nothing to fix this himself.
There was an old expectation that someone, somewhere, was meant for him to be with. His dearly beloved senshi, one that his very soul would bond to and he would find himself content and happy....
That wish never came, that person never came.
And the days became ones where he wandered in silence, surrounded by those in the world, but without thinking of who was there.
He passed by someone in an alley this evening, someone tired and old, just as he was, tents pushed together in a dysfunctional way that could only be described as a small cloth city. It was nothing new, honestly; these sorts were kind to an old, homeless cat like himself, and it was easy to curl up and enjoy that companionship, as brief as it was.
Then it was not.
A terrifying feeling made his fur stand on end. A heavy stench of blood, a scream, and then gunfire.
It all came at once, and he ran towards its source. For within all of that horror, there was a light there, one he recognized as someone who could help.
His tired legs bolted towards where that person was, leaping off the nearby window ledges and trash can lids to firmly find that man, and force himself between him and whatever creature was quickly moving towards the man.
“You...” his words came out nearly breathless as his chest rose and fell, exhaustion clear in his voice. “A-are you alright...?”
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2020 1:37 pm
A talking cat.
Any other day, Regulus would have been inclined to question his sanity, but in the heat of the moment it seemed that his brain had decided a talking cat was more likely to be a human and therefore... needed to be assisted. No sooner had poor Brioche entered his line of sight than the police officer had lunched forward and scooped him up into one arm before unceremoniously spinning on his heel and hauling a**.
"Oh I'm fine," he replied as he sprinted back down the alleyway. It should have come at no surprise that the youma was hot on their tails and had no intention of letting its prey go. "Currently," he conceded, rounding a corner and making his way towards what appeared to be a barricade consisting of a mesh fence. Fortunately, he was agile enough to launch himself up just high enough to force his way up and over it before continuing.
...Their assailant elected to smash through it instead.
Path of least resistance and all that.
"However if I don't figure out what the hell actually hurts this thing then the story might be a little different in -" he glanced over his shoulder, immediately regretted his decision and willed himself to move faster. "Probably five minutes," he conceded.
Monsters were immune to bullets, who would have thought eh?
No wonder the homeless community had fled, no wonder they had warned him. If his weapons didn't even work against this thing then none of their own makeshift ones even stood a chance.
"However I will throw you out of the way before we reach that point, you should be able to run, you'll have time." He didn't sound entirely convinced of this himself.
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2020 5:51 pm
"Ah!" Brioche had very much not expected the sudden hands on him, carrying him away from the threat. No, he imagined someone being far more scared and panicked than this man was.
If anything, he seemed almost blessedly calm given the situation. Perhaps that was the police training, as the feel of the material against his fur and the badge that glinted in the low light finally registered in his mind.
How old was this man? How did he expect to survive all this? How did he---
A tugging feeling immediately took over the cat's senses, a tingling that was such a clear sign that this man was one of his. One to awaken, one to help!
"Wait, wait, I have something for you! You have to put me down! We only need a few seconds! We can fight this, we can fight back, you can stop this! I can help you, you have the power! We just need a few seconds!" He wouldn't risk squirming away from the man's arms. The chance of losing him in the chase was far too great, and then, who knew what would become of him once they parted?
In an instant, he summoned a pen to his mouth, holding it between his teeth, just as bright and gold as the badge on the man's chest.
"Mmph! Oo gooah ake iss!!"
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 6:59 am
"Do you think I'm mad, I'm not putting you down!" Regula sounded strangled as he rounded another corner. Short of his new companion having a weapon that did happen to work against this thing (and quickly), the police officer wasn't prepared to take that chance. Granted Regula might be fairly fit and he could run for a while, but eventually he was going to tire out and after that...
Well.
It wouldn't be pretty, would it?
Nevertheless, it seemed that Brioche had already acknowledged he wouldn't have his request obeyed and had already done something else. What had once been a clear string of sentences became muffled and the officer looked down quickly to check that his companion was all right... Only to find a cat and a gold thing in his mouth.
Holy s**t, it was a talking cat.
Had it not been for the clearly life threatening beast in pursuit of his person he would have been overwhelmed with an entirely different kind of shock. Instead, against his better judgement he did as he was told and took whatever was in the feline's mouth into his free hand. While he continued to run he flipped it over, glancing at it briefly before casting a half glance back towards his uh... furry companion.
"And then I do what with it, exactly?"
Another corner rounded and more running, but Brioche finally had his attention.
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 8:45 am
Brioche almost seemed relieved when the man finally slowed down enough to take a moment and listen to him! Even more so when the pen was finally taken out of his mouth and he happened to respond.
“You’ll have to stop for a moment, put me down, and then say “Athalia, Power Make up!” You need to believe that something will change, that something will give you power and you will have it! You will know what to say from there, you will know what to do, but you need to put me down first to do it! Don’t worry, I’ll be fine!” For the few times he had done this, it was clear that he could see no regrets in this situation. Brioch wasn’t one to awaken every single person he could find.
Regula needed this. For his own safety, and for others, and he was plenty old enough to understand the severity in which the situation called for.
Yes, he could do this without regrets.
“Do not think about what’s happening, just DO, and then it will be over sooner than you think for that hideous creature!”
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 11:56 am
There were several things in the cats instructions that would obviously have led to further questions had the situation not been quite so dire. In fact, in the absence of some very life threatening circumstances there would have been a heavy dose of scepticism.
Just believe!
Really?
Regula was understandably passed the point of fairy tales but in that particular moment his brain seemed to be functioning at a higher capacity, or at least his ability to string logical thought processes together was. If a talking cat was telling him to say a set of magic words with a pen then it made some sort of sense to do as he was told. Consequently, Brioche was deposited carefully on to a nearby dumpster and the police officer drew to a halt, glancing down at the pen one more time before -
"Athalia, Power Make Up!"
What followed was a sensation that he would later look back on and definitely question, in fact, he was likely to ponder over the entire flourish of activity surrounding those words with something akin to amusement. When what could only be described as the light-born theatrics had come to an end, something else stood in place of the police officer... Or someone else anyway.
What.
He was typically more eloquent than this but right now...
With the youma bearing down on him it seemed as if time began to slow and then, strangely enough, Brioche was right, he did know what to do.
"Herculean Shield!"
Now, there were several things that were meant to happen as the newly awoken senshi thrust his arms forward to block the beast. For example, light was supposed to appear and the giant wing like carapaces were certainly meant to draw across his arms to shield him... But what was not supposed to happen was the explosion that soon followed the moment the youma came in to contact with him.
The blast was enough to dust the youma in a manner his own normal weapons could have... But it did have the added side effect of sending him flying backwards too. Within seconds he had unceremoniously smashed in to the dumpsters nearby and emitted a low, puzzled groan.
"Ow."
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 12:11 pm
Brioche had been right to give the man power. It was a grand power indeed, one with the ability to protect and actually defend, rather than some paltry ability that made someone feel good. It was incredible to watch, even when it exploded on him.
... Wait... It exploded...
Surely, magic wasn't meant to do that! It was most certainly not intended to cause harm on the one wielding it! It must have been a mistake... Brioche made pens so infrequently that he could have been somewhat rusty.. But no, even he knew better than to make such a costly mistake in making such a thing.
Surprise finally gave way to worry, and he bounded over to Athalia, anxiously pacing in front of the man and unsure if he should touch him.
"Are.. Are you alright? Do you need me to call an ambulance? Oh no... I-I'm so sorry.."
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 12:25 pm
A cliche cough was the response, then a wheeze and thankfully the man finally sat up. He certainly looked winded and a touch dazed, but his pupils weren't dilated so Brioche could take that as a sign he hadn't done himself any lasting damage.
"I'm fine," Athalia replied, bowing his head slightly as he held out his palms and then returned his gaze to the Mauvian. "Something tells me that's not supposed to happen mind you, but I'm all right," he took a deep breath to gather himself before checking rather abruptly to ensure their visitor was gone, what he hadn't quite pieced together was the fact that the visitor in question was now the dust that fell towards the ground a bit like snow.
"Right, so now I'm not about to get murdered by an eldritch horror that's immune to bullets," he raised a brow and pointed towards Brioche. "How about the talking cat tells me what's going on," he said finally. "Starting with his name, and then maybe moving on to the rest of it," he added, clarifying that he had finally acknowledged that Brioche was a cat and that everything might not be quite what it seemed.
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Posted: Fri May 22, 2020 6:37 am
"Thank goodness... I'm so sorry for that, but I'm glad you're alright. And you even managed to defeat that monster in a single shot! Incredible, especially for someone new.. But... Why?" Brioche came in closer, head tilting, eyes narrowing as he tried to analyze what exactly happened.
A small, fluffy paw went to rest on the man's knee, giving a few gentle pats as his own way to make sure everything was alright.
"... Ah! Yes, my apologizes. I am Brioche. A Mauvian Cat. That is to say, a Guardian for that which is good and assistant to those with the power to protect this realm from mortal peril. ... Though, given your normal uniform, I assume you already know much about mortal peril, so you are indeed, a fine candidate for this position. But... Before I get started, may I ask your age? I feel... There is something very peculiar about this situation, and I believe that can answer they 'why' to the questions I have myself."
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2020 11:05 am
But...why?
Well if there was ever a vote of confidence it was that one and Athalia could do nothing more than stare at Brioche for a few moments. However, the Mauvian wasn't done and the newly awoken senshi was grateful that he seemed to be continuing along his train of thought. Evidently something wasn't quite right, or something hadn't gone as planned and while Athalia wasn't entirely sure what it was at least the Mauvian was now considering the possibilities.
"Well at least you managed to get to me in time," he could be philosophical in these scenarios, he wasn't dead and he definitely had Brioche to thank for that. He was certainly used to putting himself at risk in his line of work but this was certainly a bit of an upgrade.
Eldritch horrors, who'd have thought?
He'd have to trust the hearsay and 'hallucinations' of the homeless gatherings a bit more.
"What's my..." he raised a brow, what did that have to do with anything. "I'm twenty seven, why?" he asked curiously.
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2020 8:52 pm
"You're right. I shall count that as a blessing." Kickback or not, the magic was enough to save both of their hides, and he could not complain about it. And now that Athalia seemed fine, Brioch relaxed, sitting back properly and cleared his throat.
"Well... There is a certain ideal age for those who awaken with powers. One would be young enough to learn and be melded by their magic and not so much settled in their Earthly ways. Think of it as... Well, the longer you marinate meat, the more flavor it gets from it's surroundings. Earth is the seasoning, and you're the meat. You've soaked in Earth's gentle aura for longer than is idea, and the power that binds you to your own planet has weakened, causing you to have issues controlling that very power. Ah, does that perhaps makes sense?"
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Posted: Mon May 25, 2020 3:34 am
He could appreciate a good analogy when he heard one, to him the remarks made sense to some degree. However, in order for him to understand them properly it seemed that he needed to park some of the cynicism at the door. After all, magic was now a very real thing in the world and it wasn't just the sleight of hand type that entertained audiences.
"It makes sense," he said with a small nod and released a sigh. "But if I'm considered too marinated then how exactly am I supposed to fix that?" he asked. Short of over cooking meat, he didn't know how to take the flavour out of it and revisiting this little adventure when he was sixty years old wasn't really something he thought he'd be interested in when he was a pensioner!
...Although a pensioner transforming into a magical boy did cause a small grin to flash up on his lips.
"Practice, Meditation, Self-Help books for magical boys?"
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Posted: Tue May 26, 2020 9:31 am
"Were it only that simple... But it is also not so difficult. You can't exactly take out what you have, in terms of what aura you find yourself is, but you can add to it, balance it out, I believe. If your meat is too seasoned, you add other things to soak up the extra and balance out the flavor, such as hearty vegetables, rice, etcetera. In this case, we simply have you go to your own planet and reconnect to the powers there." The sound of something rattling a trashcan nearby made him a little more than weary of all that surrounded them.
He'd chalk it up to paranoia in his old age. But then again, they had already seen monsters once this night.
"I can certainly go into more, and let you know everything I know in order to aid you, but I think it may be a wise idea to do so elsewhere. It's not safe here in these streets, as you well know."
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Posted: Tue May 26, 2020 10:34 am
"All right so today we've learned that I'm a magical, transforming boy; I explode on contact (even if I shouldn't) and apparently I have a planet," Athalia had risen to his feet and with a small sigh, he moved closer to the rattling can and gave it a smack with the back of his hand. He wasn't so easily spooked, though perhaps in a few hours he'd come down off his adrenaline high and have a slight crisis.
...A rather disgruntled rat shot out of the base, followed by a relatively snaggle-toothed cat from the top. Suffice to say he'd ruined someone's potential meal for the evening but stray cats always found a way to get what they wanted anyway.
"A planet I can go to at that," he cast a glance towards Brioche, his expression one that was clearly finding certain elements of what the Mauvian had to say, hard to believe. He didn't doubt Brioche completely, it was all just so extraordinary that he couldn't quite fathom it and he wasn't exactly young enough to immediately be on board with fairytales and spectacular epics, his imagination had dampened a fair amount as he got older.
Brioche did however, have a point.
"We can head back to mine," he added after a moment and rubbed at the back of his hand where he'd struck the can. "Though I live in a fairly well lit area and I'm relatively certain my neighbours aren't going to let this," he motioned to his costume self. "Slide."
"How do you turn this thing off?" he asked, though he afforded a small wave for Brioche to follow. They could at least walk down the darker and less well tread allies in the meantime and he wouldn't stand out, by the time they got to the more busy streets he might be less unusual.
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