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 Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 5:42 pm
Qingcheng was starting to get the hang of these patrols, and he as truly enjoying spending time with Nalanda, even if all he was doing was gushing about Yu. He still couldn’t quite believe that he was no longer single. Couldn’t believe that every day he would have someone to go home to. Someone who would be happy to see him.
Two someones if you counted Oreo, which of course you had to.
“I’m so sorry for talking your ear off, Nalanda…I just…I truly didn’t expect him to say yes…my…ah. The last person I liked…it didn’t go quite…ah. It didn’t go well and. I suppose for a while I’ve figured that I just wasn’t someone who would ever get romantic attraction.”
He wore a small, fond smile on his face and sighed softly. “I’m sorry to keep going on and on about this…it…I’m so sorry.” He knew that he sounded like a broken record…and Nalanda was just the best friend ever, listening to him go on and on about someone that he still hadn’t gotten a chance to meet. “You know…you need to come over for dinner soon. Maybe tomorrow? If you’re not too busy? Bring the dogs, I can ask Yu to make pizza…he makes the best pizza…”
He didn’t notice the other aura nearby. Perhaps because it felt vaguely the same as their own, if not a little stronger.
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2020 5:59 pm
Nalanda had started this patrol with a smile on his face, and it hadn't faded. He seemed at peace, just listening to Qingcheng talk about his boyfriend. It was one thing to hear his voice on the phone, or to read about updates in text messages--but to see the way he lit up, the way he seemed so completely happy...
It was refreshing. And a little contagious.
"I like it," he assured, and squeezed his friend's shoulder. "Please, don't ever feel like you're talking too much. I like to hear it. And I'd love to meet him. Are you sure I should bring the dogs though? I don't mind! I just don't want them to chew anything up or have an accident inside..."
While Nalanda seemed to be engaged in the conversation, he paused--not because he felt something, exactly, but because he saw something.
A man in dark blues and purples, with long, teal hair, approached; he seemed quite comfortable, as if he either belonged here--or knew one of them.
Nalanda didn't recognize him, and yet the Neptune Squire said, "There you are. I was looking everywhere for you. My brother said I'd find a team of Cosmos pages wandering around here. I think you'd be a bit easy to sneak up on. But it's nice that you two are a team, I think. That's good for starting out. Well." He paused. "As long as you know how to coordinate. Ah--" he jutted out a hand, as though he'd only just remembered he hadn't introduced himself. "I'm Ammersee. Squire, of Neptune. It's nice to meet you."
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 7:50 pm
Qingcheng tilted his head, wrinkling his nose slightly. “Oh…I’m Qingcheng…and this is my friend Nalanda…ah…how can we help you, Ammersee?”
He was a little thrown for a loop by the sudden new knight and glanced at Nalanda, giving a questioning look. “…Do ah…do you know him?” He hoped so…if this was a friend well…that was good. Having stronger friends was…important.
He glanced back at the Neptune Squire and nodded. “…It’s very nice to meet you.” There was a hesitation in Qingcheng’s voice, but he gave a small smile regardless. If this was planned, why hadn’t Nalanda said anything?
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 8:47 pm
Nalanda looked perplexed; he didn't recognize this Knight at all and seemed to be trying to piece things together. He hadn't met many people--especially not powered. "No," he finally confessed.
Ammersee confirmed when he said, "It's nice to meet you both. I think it's clever that you're patrolling together. Too many people get hurt because they go out on their own. Although, if you don't know how to work together, you might not be at that much of an advantage. We should spar," he suggested. "The two of you against me. I'll go easy on you."
Nalanda faltered and glanced between the two; before he could accept or deny, Ammersee added, "Lupu mentioned that you did pretty good against him, Nalanda. But your enemy isn't always going to be standing still and coaching you on where to attack. What do you say?"
"Oh!" He had told Qingcheng about Lupu, and looked to his fellow Cosmos Knight, nodding just slightly. "I--I mean, I'm not opposed," he said softly to him, wanting to discuss it first before agreeing.
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 12:11 pm
Qingcheng nodded and looked a little nervous when Nalanda said that he didn’t know who this other knight was, but then relaxed slightly when his friend seemed to understand, and he did remember being told about the Saturn Squire…
“You want…to train us? Ah, yeah sure. If Nalanda is okay with it…I am too.”
They still needed the help. He knew that more than anything but…still. He hadn’t…this wasn’t what he had planned though, it wasn’t so bad to be spontaneous.
After another moment’s thought, Qingcheng nodded with a bit more enthusiasm. “Yeah. That sounds good. I think…we could use the help. At least I could…I…we’re in self defense classes and my boyfriend has been teaching me a few things.”
Self defense things, of course.
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 12:49 pm
Ammersee nodded and seemed a bit relieved to hear that he hadn't wasted a trip out here. "Well, good. Then, let's get this whole thing started. I'll stand over here," he moved, giving them just a bit of distance.
"I want you both to come at me, let's see how good you are with your team coordination. If you're going to patrol together, you have to be able to anticipate what the other's going to do--anticipate how you're going to react to an attack, how you can cover each other's weaknesses. So," he took a relaxed stance and, while it wasn't the same hostile pose he figured their enemies would meet them with, this was a good starting point. "Let's go, come at me. Show me what you've got."
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 5:12 pm
Qingcheng glanced at Nalanda and leaned close. “…I’ll go first, and you come after? I…I can be a good distraction…” He gave a little grin. “He won’t see you coming, right?” It made sense for the taller to be the one who took the offensive.
He didn’t wait for an answer and moved quickly, going to punch Ammersee, working hard to make sure that his thumb was in the proper position so he wouldn’t hurt it. He felt…strangely excited as he moved towards the Squire, confident.
This was safe. And he was in a situation where he could keep learning. He needed to learn…if he kept coming home to Yu with injuries…well. He wouldn’t be happy with that.
Today though…he would do his very best not to get hurt.
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 5:39 pm
Nalanda nodded; he knew his form wasn't particularly intimidating so it seemed like the best plan. Qingcheng could go in high and he could go in low--or something. He watched as the other Cosmos page moved and tried to sweep to his left so that they could go in together, without issues.
Ammersee seemed to be allowing this--he didn't move. He remained relaxed--until Qingcheng got too close.
And then he moved, fast. Even with pulling his punches, he grabbed the front of the Cosmos' uniform and tossed him backwards into Nalanda. He was clearly expecting something--some resistance from Qingcheng, some stability from Nalanda. Maybe he had forgotten the difference in strength from when he was less experienced, less powerful.
He threw Qingcheng through the air and even as Nalanda chirped in surprise and tried to catch him, the force knocked him off his feet and he flew backwards, landing hard on his back.
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 7:27 pm
He had it all planned, and then everything ended in a moment. Qingcheng was utterly confused as he was literally thrown through the air, and he marveled at the utter strength of the Squire, but was unable to say anything, feeling himself collide with Nalanda, and feeling the both of them crash into the ground.
The page felt utterly dazed and confused, blinking rapidly as he tried to get his bearings, though was finding it difficult. He managed to move off of Nalanda at any rate, looking at him with concern. “Oh my god, are you okay?” He swallowed and looked back at Ammersee, scowling.
“You….you threw me! I…What was that for?”
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 7:40 pm
Ammersee's eyes flashed and he hurried over. "Oh--s**t, I'm sorry," he said, with such hurried concern. He reached down to try and help them off of each other, worriedly checking each of them over.
Nalanda was dazed, reaching a hand to his head and wheezing as he tried to restore the breath to his burning lungs. He stayed curled up, hand over his chest as he tried to force his chest to relax so he could breathe easier.
He reached a hand up to assure that he was fine, but he hadn't reached for his glasses--discarded a few feet away from them--and just kept rubbing his chest.
"I thought you would weigh more," the Squire admitted. "When you get stronger, you--well--you get stronger. I guess I haven't been paying attention recently. I'm sorry, I should have been more careful. --Are you all right?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 8:09 pm
Qingcheng moved to draw Nalanda into his arms, stroking his back lightly. “Hey…I’m here. Deep breaths.” He reached for the male’s glasses and gently put them back onto his face.
“Ah…well…Ammersee…I um. Hope that I don’t throw people when I’m a squire…that…sounds….ah. You are very strong.” He hesitated and focused on Nalanda. “…Can you breathe…? Is it anxiety or did you get the wind knocked out of you?” He hesitated. “I don’t…know what to do to best help you.” He could talk him through a panic attack if he needed to, but if it were an injury or his weak lungs acting up…
There wasn’t much that he could do for that.
“…Can you help me get him home, Ammersee? Please?”
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 8:47 pm
Nalanda looked embarrassed, not wanting to lift his head; he coughed a few more times, one hand covering his mouth. "I'm fine," he choked back, hand clenching into a fist to help steady himself. "I'm so sorry."
"No, it was my fault," Ammersee said apologetically and he wrapped an arm around Nalanda, carefully helping him up. "I can help you get home. We'll need to find a safe place to power down so we don't draw any attention too close to home. I'm sorry," he said again, "My brother said that you needed help with sparring, I really didn't mean for this--"
"It's okay," Nalanda said, and it looked like he was burying his face in the crook of his arm to stifle the coughs. "It's coming back. Not panicking." Much. He had just been surprised a bit. But he wasn't panicking. Mostly.
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Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2020 1:10 pm
Qingcheng nodded, feeling oddly safe now that they had a plan. They would get Nalanda home, they would get him taken care of. “I’ll make you some tea when we get back. You will be okay. I’m here. You don’t have to worry…we ah…we’re both here.” He stroked the male’s back and relaxed slightly, helping the male to the safe place.
They could power down and go home…and it would all be okay.
“I’m not leaving you. If you need me to stay tonight, I can do that. I’ll just let Yu know. It won’t be a problem at all.”
In fact, he would rather do that. He didn’t want the male to have to be alone, not if there was a panic attack involved. No matter how brave he thought he was.
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Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2020 1:44 pm
"Oh," Nalanda said softly, giving his hand a little squeeze. "I don't want him to worry about you," he assured softly. "But thank you. We can figure it out when I get home. I'm so sorry," he said again.
Ammersee just shook his head and made sure that Nalanda was doing well. He felt guilty and again insisted that he was to blame, which only resulted in Nalanda then assuring otherwise.
It wasn't until they had reached down the road a bit and powered down that they fell into a complacent silence; Priam was trembling a little but he was cold and clammy anyway. Before they parted, Loren left them with his phone number and asked them to check in, just so that he didn't worry too much--and promised to be there if they needed any assistance.
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