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 Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 10:44 pm
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Rhona had waited patiently, knowing the grief that Izobel had to navigate while she slept in her spare room. And truth be told, Rhona had grieved with her. to a much lesser extent of course, but Izobel's pain had been Rhona's. And so when she came to the older woman and told her it was time, the first thing Rhona asked was, "are you sure?" It seemed so soon... how long was normal to grieve for the death of ones parents? And not just their deaths, but their out and out murder? That had been a whole different set of emotional traumas when Rhona found out the truth about what had happened... and then had to put her hunger for vengeance away while Izobel healed.
It had been hard, needless to say. On everyone. But it was about to be over. Rhona met Lacerta in her bathroom, next to the full-length mirror which was as much for function as it was for vanity. Behind her, Misha waited, anxious in his own right to see what would happen to him should he choose this path himself. She rested her hands heavily on Lacerta's shoulders before she moved to her side, taking one hand gently in hers, Misha's grasped firmly in the other.
"Alright, you two," she sighed, smiling as best she could, "hold on to me the whole time. Especially you, Misha." She waited for a moment, nervous herself, though she didn't know why, before she pressed on into the mirror, passing the surface with practiced ease and pulled her passengers through as well.
Mirrorspace unfolded around her like home, the Common Room unchanged just like it always was. There was so much she wanted to show them both. Lacerta knew some of this place, but nothing of what it truly is. She wanted to show them her Realm, the endless maze of hallways, the depths where gods knew what crept.
But no. There would be time later. Time forever. Once they were both home... for now was the business of bringing one of them there in the first place.
---
Misha arrived early, anxious about what he would see.
"Lacerta will be pushed into the Black Mirror and it will consume her. When she comes out, she will be changed." The way Rhona explained it... it almost seemed obvious.
"And the Black Mirror is..."
"We're not really sure. But it's important to us in terms of awakening and corrupting. It's the only way we can do it, really."
Misha nodded, steepling his fingers as he sat and thought.
"Does it hurt?"
"Would it change your mind if it did?"
Misha was silent.
"No one has said that it hurts. But that doesn't mean that it doesn't. It might be painful while you're in there, and when you get out you forget."
"Is that even possible?"
"You're asking me what's possible?"
Silence again as the twins smiled at one another with familiar ease. The silence stretched out between them, comfortable and calm until Izobel roused and moved around within the home behind them. Rhona didn't jump up to greet her, and so neither did Misha. Instead, they sat and waited until they heard her call on her star. Rhona mirrored the action and gestured for Misha to follow.
"Alright, you two. Hold on to me the whole time. Especially you, Misha."
Acubens didn't give him a choice, grabbing on to his hand without waiting for his response. Even when he shuddered violently, the sensation of ice water crashing against him making him physically recoil, she held on to him.
"The Common Room," Misha said, looking to his sister for confirmation once his wits regathered. She smiled and nodded before she tugged them both in the direction of the only door in the room, into the intimidating Throne Room. Misha had been told what to expect, but that didn't make it any easier. The throne itself was frightening, but not nearly as much as the crystal that seemed to power the whole place... nor the looming Black Mirror.
"It's not so bad," he sniffed dismissively, though he did draw closer to his sister.
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2020 5:41 pm
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Remarque was not the sort to be late, but there was a problem with being early to Mirrorspace. Mainly, things moved. Hallways and doors would appear, and mirrors would beg for your attention. Naturally, after half an hour, he had succumbed. He explored a little, well aware that if he went back, he’d lose wherever he was now. Still, he kept his eye on the time, and finally managed his way back to the Common Room--and then, the throne room.
He felt energy signatures immediately and made his way to them; he didn’t often drift into his Prince form, but it was a good precaution here in Mirrorspace. “Acubens,” he greeted as he approached, “And friends.”
“...You know you’re not supposed to bring people in here unless they’re going to go through the Black Mirror, right?” He pointed to her brother, who he easily recognized. “So, him, I get, it likes civilians--if you’re planning on walking him through, but her?” He pointed to Lacerta. “...Really dangerous to bring a White Moon Senshi in here, friendly or not. Are you trying to stick her in a mirror…?" He gestured to the mirrors on the wall. "This room kind of just sucks them in, so...”
He turned to Lacerta and held his hand out to her. “Remarque, hi, nice to meet you. Don’t go too close to the walls, stay next to me.”
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2020 9:01 pm
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So, him I get. It likes civilians.
Acubens drew Misha closer to her without thinking. These things could take her brother over her dead ******** body as far as she was concerned. The only mirror he was going through would be the Black one when he was good and ready to do so. Not a moment before.
She was about to speak on behalf of Lacerta when she spoke up. Acubens was a little taken a back, if she was being honest, but after the initial surprise, she happily faded into the background and watch with pride while Lacerta handled herself. She seemed comfortable around Remarque, which she was of course happy about. And she seemed as comfortable as one could be in mirrorspace when you weren't dark mirror yourself.
It was only when Lacerta stopped talking that Acubens stepped up again to speak.
"This is a senshi... well... like me. The white moon isn't a home to anyone, and she's seen that. She wants to come home... to us." Emotion swelled in her voice, but she did her best to keep it down. Misha's firm pressure on her hand helped to stabilize her.
"And this is my..." This time there was no amount of hand-squeezing that could ground her. Acubens' voice cracked again as she glanced back at the man at her side. He smiled at her and the dams broke. Damn, she hadn't cried like this since... well since he came home to her finally.
"Remarque, this, as you know, is my brother," she whispered, tucking her head under Misha's chin as he folded her into his arms as best he could. She sniffed and with his free hand, Misha wiped away her tears, grinning like a fool for god only knew what reason. He probably thought she was being silly, crying over something like this.
"He wants to try and join us too but just... not quite yet. He wants to see how it's done."
---
Misha was, admittedly, distracted by the world around him. So this was what mirrorspace was... Rhona had told him about it before as best she could, but he understood what she meant when she said that it was hard to describe. Everything seemed to be... shifting... somehow off.
When Remarque showed up on the scene, Misha stiffened. He hadn't expected to meet him so soon, nor was he expecting the jealousy that roared to life when he saw him.
So this was him. The man who had replaced him while he was away. Well, Misha certainly hoped that this man was done keeping his place warm, because Misha intended to take it back, by force if necessary. Rhona only needed one brother, and he had come back after all. So why shouldn't be just be reinstated?
He also didn't take too well to the threat directed at him. Misha's scowl deepened, even as his sister pulled him closer. That god this man -- this prince if he was to be called that was preoccupied with the other girl with them. Misha didn't have to pretend to play nice.
Acubens' voice cracking, however, claimed his attention. Talking about the girl... Lacerta... about coming home. Granted, Misha didn't know much of anything about her, but if what Acubens' said about being the same was true then... well poor kid... He tightened his grip on Acubens' hand to keep her stable but continued to say nothing. He was just here to watch.
And then her voice broke again, a crack like a wall crumbling down. His smile was supposed to be comforting, but she crumbled even further. And all he could do was what he had ever done. He folded his little sister into his arms, as best he could given her grip on Lacerta, and held her until the flooding stopped. And when she looked up at him he knew he had been so stupid for being even a little jealous of someone else. Let Remarque be her brother. Fine. Misha would always be her twin, and nothing could take that from him. Not even a prince.
"I know I have limited time to try and wake up."
"Awaken."
"Awaken. But first I want to... to see. See what happens."
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Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2020 10:45 am
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Remarque could have guessed that Misha was her brother even if he hadn't seen pictures and heard all about him. He nodded at the young man but hesitated; he didn't want to take the attention off of Lacerta but he asked Acubens, "Are you sure he's a senshi?" he asked hesitantly. "...You know that's not something all people can access. Unless he's seen a cat already to confirm...just...be careful."
He trusted Misha, because Acubens did; they were twins, and he trusted that Misha wouldn't do anything to hurt her. But if he wasn't slated to be a Senshi, he didn't want her getting his hopes up. You couldn't force someone into being a Senshi if they weren't born with the starseed to do so.
...But this wasn't about him. This was about Lacerta.
He flashed her a friendly smile. "Prince Remarque, yeah. But you can just call me Remarque. Come on, the common room is safe. The throne room can get a bit volatile. It'll be easier to visit when you're a Dark Mirror Senshi, there's just a lot of safeguards in there to make sure the wrong people aren't snooping around."
He placed a gentle hand on her back to guide her back to the Common Room. "I'll get you a mirror to step through, we'll get that taken care of. It's nice to meet you, Lacerta. We'll do whatever we can to make this a home. I don't know what you might have heard about corruption, but it doesn't hurt. Not when you join us."
When they reached the Common Room, he waved his hand and a Mirror appeared, almost identical to the Black Mirror. It was large, easy to walk through. He could see his reflection, and hers, in it. "...You'll walk through this mirror," he instructed. "It's easy. Put your hand to it and step through. Might take a minute in there, but you'll see a light--this mirror. It's a doorway. Go through it, and you'll wind up back here. New, and refreshed. You keep your memories, you won't forget anything. But if you look in a mirror again, you won't recognize yourself. It's a side effect, to keep you safe. Big difference is a new eye color, so fingers crossed you get a good one."
He spoke calmly, reassuringly. This was a big life change, and he wanted to make sure she knew what to expect.
"You don't have to be afraid," he said after a second. "We'll be here waiting for you when you come back out. To welcome you home."
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2020 9:14 pm
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Remarque was right... she really should make sure that Misha was even a candidate before she went around making promises. And there was a very simple way to go about checking in the first place... so why hadn't she? She tightened her grip on Misha's hand as she ignored the answer that burned it life in her mind. She didn't want to be wrong. She didn't want to find out that he couldn't join her. She didn't want him to not be like her.
But Remarque was also right in that this moment had to be about Lacerta.
She'd deal with the questions of Misha's viability later.
"We can't wait to see you on the other side," Acubens cooed gently before Lacerta vanished through the mirror. She remembered her corruption... not so much the actual sensations, but rather the emotional impressions. Even though she had trusted Leto with her life and more... there was still that fear that maybe... maybe... this was too good to be true.
"This is what you did," Misha whispered into her ear. Acubens nodded, glancing back at him before turning back to Lacerta. "I was older though... 21, remember?" Misha made an affirmative sound and then, "will I be doing this?" Acubens caught the uncertainty in his voice.
"Yes but you'll be awakening and not corrupt. Which means you'll still get to be Misha. You won't have to change like Lacerta will have to." Acubens tried to keep the jealousy from her voice and mostly succeeded. "You won't have to change your name."
Misha fell silent beside her again and the three of them waited. Everyone took their own time. Acubens felt like hers had taken a lifetime. Xi's powering up had taken moments. Crocus' awakening had taken about the same. And yet Acubens felt like she stood, waiting for Lacerta for years.
And when at last she emerged again, this time clad in flowing black, she could have cried.
Did it work?
Had Misha not tightened his hand in hers she might have forgotten she was holding on to him at all and dropped it. Her jaw hung slack and words failed her. Again, she felt that choking, suffocating swell of pride that threatened to tear her apart.
"Oh," was the only small sound she could make before she swallowed around the lump in her throat and found her voice after what might have either been a laugh or a sob. She rushed to Lacerta then, dragging Misha behind her as he laughed at his sister's sudden rush of emotion.
"Oh darling," she murmured, stroking Lacerta's hair, "oh... Oh sweetheart it worked. It worked so well. Welcome home."
She pulled back after a long embrace and the regarded her, her eyes welling and overflowing before she stepped aside to present their newest edition to their prince.
---
You won't have to change like Lacerta will have to. You won't have to change your name.
All Misha could think was but what if I want to?
The words died in his throat, though, and so instead he fell back into silence, watching the place where Lacerta had vanished and wondered what was happening while she was in there.
And then she emerged, different than before in both appearance and demeanor. He was going to speak, but Acubens yanked him forward, her ever-intense emotions bubbling over as she took the young woman in her arms. He had to laugh. At least that hadn't changed.
"How do you feel?" Perhaps a stupid question, but one that leaped from his lips none-the-less.
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Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2020 3:13 pm
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Remarque was not so quick with his emotions; he was not as easy to read as Acubens, but there was an undeniable pride at seeing her new outfit, at feeling her new energy signature. He wasn't cold by any means, but it was hard to rival Acubens' enthusiasm--and he couldn't shed tears or erupt into such unfiltered emotions like she was so inclined to.
He relaxed quickly, once more crossing his arms over his chest; when Lacerta had run out of the mirror, it had been instinct to try and catch her but she seemed balanced on her own feet--and comfortably settled into Acubens' arms.
'How do you feel' was a good question, and he nodded when Misha asked.
"Welcome to the club. Welcome home. Take your time to adjust. Acubens, I assume you're taking her home with you...?" His eyes drifted back to Lacerta. "We're going to have to get you a new ID, but that's not too hard. And if you need necessities, I can get you what you need. Do you need a seat or anything?" he asked and waved his hand; almost immediately, a white chair that looked like some antique carved marble appeared with a plush white cushion. It seemed to grow out of the ground--an extension of Mirrorspace, summoned by his will alone.
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Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 12:12 pm
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"You don't have to know how you feel, love," Acubens soothed, still sniffling in her joy. She smoothed Lacerta's hair from her face, easing whatever loose strands there were back into their positions. "You can ask Remarque, it took me forever to find my footing. Then again, I was so dead set on doing it alone... but you'll find your sea legs in good time. Er... your mirror legs, I suppose."
Then she turned to Remarque to answer his questions.
"Yes, I already spoke with Lavender and she's fine with it. And Lacerta has a job with me if she wants it. Everything should be taken care of for the time being. All Lacerta has to do is gather her wits. However long that takes."
---
Behind his sister, Misha had turned his attention from the newly corrupted senshi to the mirror that had done the deed. It hadn't seemed painful. It had seemed rather peaceful, in fact. It allayed some of his fears that this was a deeply painful process.
Something around them shifted and Misha flinched slightly. Sorry, had Remarque just... summoned... no... spontaneously generated a whole a** chair?
Acubens may have been comfortable here, and it seemed that Remarque and Lacerta were as well, but Misha couldn't shake the previously veiled implication that this place was dangerous for someone like him.
Someone normal.
He cleared his throat and shifted a little before he spoke.
"Maybe it'd be easier for her to acclimate back home... in the real world?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 8:39 am
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Remarque glanced back at Misha as he spoke, because he understood that Mirrorspace could be overwhelming--even without having just been brought into the Dark Mirror Court. “Not a bad idea,” he relented; just because he felt safe there didn’t mean that people new to it would.
“You doing alright, Lacerta?” he asked, glancing to where she had taken a seat. She looked tired, and naturally he would extend concern to her as a member of the Court. He knew the whole thing was a draining experience--a literal life changing experience--but she’d handled it well so far and he wanted to make sure the rest of this went as well as it had so far.
“We can get you back to Destiny City, get you home so you can rest. If you have any questions, we can over them here or there, now or later. I’ll make sure you’ve got my number, you can text me any time if you want to meet up. Acubens is passionate, I’m sure she’ll do her best to look out for you. You’re one of us, now. We want to make sure you’re taken care of. Anything you need, you let us know, okay?”
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Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2021 6:59 pm
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Remarque seemed amicable to the idea; Lacerta had been through enough for one night and he wasn’t going to push her any further. He gave her one quick look over after she stood, as if he’d be able to see if there was something wrong, but he seemed to accept that she was okay.
She’d be okay.
She was with them now, and they weren’t going to let her down.
“Alright, a wise idea. We’ll get you out of here, get you home and somewhere you can rest up and think things out. And, when you’re ready, we’ll talk it over. Anything you need, anytime you need it, you let me know, Lacerta. We’re in this together.”
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