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 Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2020 8:40 pm
In hindsight, maybe it wasn't the most logical thing, to be out after dark after a traumatic incident of someone reaching into your chest and pulling out an organ you didn't know you had. But, the internet wasn't yielding any answers, and either he was going crazy or he was going to get the truth.
So, Aiden had tasked himself with going out after hours and--mostly--spying. It was awkward, to be honest, lurking in the shadows and the bushes, and trying so hard not to look like a creep or a criminal, just waiting for the right opportunity. He didn't want to hurt anyone, he just wanted proof.
They'd told him that he was probably hallucinating, when he first woke up. When he told the doctors what had happened. He'd spent enough time in the hospital to want to be out immediately, so as soon as he was conscious and declared stable, he wasn't going to ruin it by being sent to their psych ward.
...Options were slim.
He'd gone out for a few nights and found absolutely no answers.
And then he'd gone out tonight and, while hiding in the shadows in the late hours of the evening, trouble found him.
At first, he thought it was just a stray animal--a raccoon, or a cat, or a dog. Until it didn't take the hint and leave when he kept fussing and hissing at it. Instead, it came closer--and the creature knocked him to the ground.
He remembered that much. He remembered trying to shove the thing--a dog?--off of him as it pushed down on him so much he started to lose his breath, started to feel dizzy. He remembered scrambling away, grabbing onto something to hit it with. He thought it was a stick, but he wasn't sure, and he didn't get the chance to look. He hit it as hard as he could, as often as he could, but the thing suddenly seemed enraged and made a feral sound so awful that he didn't know what he was dealing with.
He didn't want rabies though, and he had enough taste for self-preservation that he scrambled away from the best--and it followed. So he scrambled, and it gained on him, and finally he twisted and threw himself to his feet, bolting through town without any regard. It was hot on his heels, and even when he thought he was making some distance between the thing, he still wound up crashing right into something else.
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 7:05 am
That something else was just as furry, although perhaps a bit more translucent, and cleaner, than the creature that had been attacking him.
The knight had crashed right into a huge wolf's maybe surprisingly solid shoulder. When it snarled, its muscled body vibrating with the deep sound, it was very obviously ignoring the knight and instead focused on the gnarled creature in the darkness.
From Belmont's perspective, he might have been concerned about the amount of teeth within biting range, but it was a good thing he was so close because when the wolf suddenly braced itself and howled, Belmont was safely outside its range of attack.
The howl sent a blast of wind from the wolf's throat that practically threw the other creature off its feet and several yards away from them. That put the creature out in the open and dazed it long enough for a heavy, metal encased, glass vial of liquid to come crashing down like a meteor hammer.
As the unknown creature disappeared into a cloud of smoke and dust, the wolf settled down, lowering itself to lay on the ground, although it kept a seemingly protective front leg around the knight. Not quite touching him, but enough to keep a small barrier between the young man and the rest of the world.
Its ears were relaxed and tail started wagging as the owner of the makeshift meteor hammer turned to face them.
"You okay?" Sessrumnir asked, letting the broken stormglass disappear, soon followed by the semi-transparent wolf.
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 12:31 pm
Wolves were not supposed to be in Destiny City. He was pretty sure they were supposed to be deep in the forest, far away from cars and buildings and him. Belmont had nearly fallen to the ground when he collided with the great beast but he managed, to keep his ground.
He considered that he must have hit his head, hard, because suddenly nothing made sense.
Wolves. Weird costume. Weird creature. Weird--weapon? Weird magic?
He had briefly taken everything in--including the fact that the guy in front of him had obliterated the thing--dog?--that was chasing him. Into ashes, it looked like, scattered in the wind.
His adrenaline was not making any of this easier, and while he usually craved the rush of it he found that he had absolutely no idea how to process this.
"No," he answered honestly, and raised his hand to his eyes, rubbing forcefully. In his free hand, he clutched the hollow sword handle he'd thought earlier was just a stick, but he barely even seemed aware that he was holding anything at all.
When he lowered his hand, he was looking between the man--and...his wolf? It seemed too domestic, but he wasn't sure he could muster any trust for it right now, not while his heart was pounding.
"--What did you just do? What was that?" he asked, trying to force his words to stay calm.
He'd already had one bad run in with a costumed stranger before, he didn't need another one.
He just wanted answers.
...And to not be harassed by anything that even looked remotely like a wolf.
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 2:52 pm
Sessrumnir paused for just a moment, his jaw tightening as the other knight spoke. He was obviously very new to being a knight.
Maybe it wasn’t too late then.
“It was a youma,” Sessrumnir explained, although none too friendly about it. He adjusted his belt where the wolf’s fang hung, making sure the entirety of his summon had disappeared and returned to its home. “An evil monster that steals energy and eats human souls. It would have ripped you apart to get to yours. I killed it. You’re welcome.”
Coming across another Jupiter knight was pretty rare. He was only on speaking terms with one other, and that happened to be his brother. Others he might have seen in passing, but he didn’t know them personally.
And this guy seemed pretty young.
“Power down and go home,” he told him with a frown. One more pause to make sure the knight wasn’t actually injured and then Sessrumnir turned to leave.
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 2:58 pm
The page listened, but slowly one brow began to raise.
An evil monster that steals energy and eats human souls was as logical as a half monster man who pulled something shiny out of his chest.
"Wait," he insisted, alarmed at the sight of a back instead of face. "What does that mean? Power down? --I'm not a robot, so if that means something else, you're going to have to fill me in. --Where did your dog--wolf?--go?"
He couldn't tell if he was bothering the guy, but it didn't seem like he was out here to make friends. Which, personally? He could live with. He was out here, looking for answers, and this guy knew something.
And saved him, so that was already better than the last costumed encounter.
It might have helped if he wasn't completely ******** oblivious that he'd powered up in the first place. He figured the strange energy he was feeling had something to do with the adrenaline coursing through him, with the prospect of apparently being saved from being ripped apart.
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 3:23 pm
“Seriously?” Sessrumnir almost snapped, but instead he just sounded incredibly exasperated and exhausted. This guy didn’t even know how to power down? Had he literally just powered up for the first time or… was he just that dumb?
“Figure it out. I’m not your mother and I’m not going to hold your hand,” he said over his shoulder, his voice a bit gruffer now as he ground his teeth together. There had been no one to tell him how to do things. It was a natural ability all knights should have to know how to power up and down.
But there were clearly outliers.
“The wolf was an illusion. Smoke and mirrors,” he tried, waving a hand over his shoulder to try and shoo the other knight off. Maybe if he realized how little Sessrumnir wanted to talk to him, he would just give up and leave. It was easier to convince someone to not give up their life doing something stupid by dismissing them than giving them answers and encouraging them.
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 3:31 pm
Okay. Fine. He could do that. Whatever that meant.
It must have registered somewhere that he wasn't wearing the same outfit. That he was holding a sword hilt. Briefly, he glanced at it--at his hands, and he knew this was not right. He squinted at it--but he had a list of questions, and what he was wearing was at the bottom of it.
He wasn't about to go chasing after some guy sounding too desperate. He took a few steps after him and tried to focus, to get to the point.
"I'm not here to hold hands. I don't care about the other stuff. I want to know about when they reach in your chest and take something out," he said, because that was the only thing that mattered. "Can you tell me that, at least? Or point me in the direction of someone who knows?"
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 3:47 pm
That question had Sessrumnir stopping. How many times had he fought to get a starseed back into the correct body after it was stolen? And how many times had he been unsuccessful, forced to watch as someone was left to die in front of him. Maybe not die in the immediate sense of the word, but eventually. A human could only survive so long in a coma without a starseed in their body.
“Do you really want to know?” he asked, stopping so he could turn to take a better look at the knight under light that illuminated parts of the street.
“When someone reaches into your chest and takes something out, that’s your starseed. Your soul, so to speak. It’s what those youma really want when energy isn’t enough,” Sessrumnir said, figuring that if trying to ignore the guy wasn’t working, then he would just scare him into giving up.
“If it leaves your body for too long, you die. If it’s destroyed, you will never be reincarnated or have your name passed to a descendent of your bloodline. If someone takes it and forces chaos into it, the starseed becomes corrupted and you’d be made to work for the Negaverse. You might lose some or all of your memories, if you’re lucky. If you’re unlucky and the corruption is botched, you turn into one of those things that was chasing you. As a knight, yes, you’re a knight, if you’re forced to eat too many starseeds that were taken from others, you get turned into a youma too. Or you die from the pain. Does that answer your question? Feel free to cross reference if you must.”
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 3:58 pm
Belmont's breath hitched, part because he had an answer, and part because he had to process it. He watched the man in front of him and his attention didn't waver for a moment, though he couldn't help but draw up his arm to rub at his chest uncertainly.
He remembered that it hurt. He remembered that it felt like having your ribs broken, in that way that pushed your breath out of your lungs but didn't feel like you were breathing. He remembered the sensation of fingers in his chest cavity, gripping something that simultaneously felt like it was in his throat, his chest, his stomach, his fingertips.
He remembered the way it came out clean.
He'd expected blood, expected to be staring at his bleeding heart, but instead he there was only a small, smooth little gem.
And then, everything went black.
"So, the Negaverse....takes the starseeds," he said, testing the terms. "Who--puts them back? --And you're totally sure you can't live without one?"
It wasn't a question to challenge his expertise; he was clearly trying to put things together. He took a few steps closer, brows knit, but eyes still on Sessrumnir. It didn't seem to matter if his presence was unwelcome; he kept a bit of a distance but moved close enough that it was within range to have a civilized conversation.
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 4:28 pm
In spite of himself, Sessrumnir’s expression eased. Not because he wasn’t frustrated that another innocent had been drawn into a magical war that traversed the universe, but because the young man standing before him, was clearly unsettled.
This knight acted as though he’d had his starseed taken. It would explain the questions, and the way he rubbed at his chest. Sessrumnir knew how it felt, to have a starseed taken from one’s body.
“The body might live for hours. Maybe even months or years. I don’t know what the record is, but it would be as though the person was in a coma. Who they are as an individual is contained in that starseed,” he said, and then hesitantly took a few steps closer to the knight as well, if only so he didn’t have to speak so loudly.
“There’s a limit to how long a starseed can survive without a body too. But yes, the Negaverse takes starseeds. Since they’ve already got chaos inside them, they’ll eat starseeds in moderation to heal themselves and regain energy.”
The thought made his stomach churn uncomfortably, but hopefully it would have the same effect on this new knight. If he was too disgusted to want to be a knight, that was a win.
“If the person is lucky a knight or senshi or other Good Samaritan will put it back before it’s too late.”
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 4:46 pm
Okay. That made sense. That lined up, and made more sense than him having a seizure or some other health issue they hadn't been able to detect.
He had goosebumps on his skin at the idea that he had been compressed into a little stone that fit into someone's hand. That he could have been carried around, eaten. Dissolved. Erased from existence.
It was too perverse of a concept for him to even appreciate that the guy in front of him had confirmed at least some sort of 'life after death'.
He nodded, taking this information in. His eyes drifted to the ground for a few seconds while he composed himself, but he seemed grateful--if not also visibly perturbed. He didn't want to throw around information, especially if the other man didn't even want this conversation in the first place.
"I was in a coma for six days. The last thing I remember before blacking out was some guy, only he looked like--I don't know, a werewolf. Big, wolf arms. Ears. A tail. And there was a girl with him, in some sort of uniform. And they reached into my chest and pulled it out. And then I woke up in the hospital."
He didn't think he needed to give his life story, but he needed to make sure he got all of this right. "I didn't sign up for anything. Not to be--a Knight, or whatever. How do I make sure that doesn't happen again? To me, or anyone I care about? I couldn't do anything to stop them. They were too fast." He felt oddly guilty about it, like he knew he was setting himself up for more criticism than he already gave himself. But, he'd rather be educated than be dead.
"Is there a way? Or is it luck of the draw, you see them and you're dead, unless--by some miracle--your soul finds its way back to you?"
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 5:33 pm
Sessrumnir’s already softer expression didn’t change when it was finally revealed that the knight’s starseed had been taken from him. He did not relish being right about these things.
Having just been actively trying to avoid the other knight, it took Sessrumnir a moment’s longer of hesitation before finally allowing himself to step further out of the darkness and into the streetlight. Across his left cheek and jaw were clear scars from claws that had raked across his face. His upper right arm was also marred with scars; claws and one smooth, like from a blade.
He doubted that the young man would understand that he was trying to show him that he understood the pain and fear he must have felt, but it was the best Sessrumnir could do at the moment.
“No one signs up for this. You’re either born to be a knight or senshi, or you’re not.” He knew it was more complicated than that in some instances with descended knights, but he wasn’t about to dive further into it and risk confusing the guy even more.
Sessrumnir knew he needed to stop. It was easier when he knew nothing about this guy, but the fact that he was a brand new knight and had already experienced his starseed being torn from his chest made things more difficult.
“You can power down-... change back to who you are as a civilian and never change back into a knight. It won’t protect you completely, but the Negaverse is more likely to attack knights or senshi than civilians. Or,” he continued, against his better judgment, “You can learn how to use the power you were born with and fight back.”
This was a bad idea. This was just one more person who would end up dead at the hands of the Negaverse. But he did have the choice, and Sessrumnir thought it was only fair to make sure he was aware of it.
“If someone took your starseed, unless they somehow felt guilty enough to return it, someone else likely got it back from them,” Sessrumnir frowned, but it was thoughtful. “I’ve never been far enough away from someone who needed their starseed back to see if it would find its own way. But I’ve learned anything is possible.”
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 7:12 pm
Belmont recognized that the move was deliberate; there was no other reason to move into the light unless he wanted to be seen. So, Belmont looked.
His eyes traced over the scars on his face, his arm. His gaze lingered for a moment and then he looked back up at the Knight and nodded; it was slow, not quite certain, but there was something of an understanding there. He didn't understand everything, not the hidden nuances, or the stories behind the scars.
But he understood that this was dangerous.
He looked down at his hands, at the strange sleeves, the bracers, the tuft of fur at his wrists. At the sword handle in his hand.
"It's weird," he said, like that was the only commentary he could really think to come up with. "I wanted answers, but I don't know what I was expecting. All I can think about is what would have happened if no one found it. If no one brought it back. I'd still be in a coma and no one would have known what happened to me. I'm guessing I'm never going to find who saved me to thank them."
His attention was back on the Knight.
"...You sound like you've been doing this for a while. It doesn't look like this job's been kind to you. Why do you keep doing it?"
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 7:32 pm
“Well,” he said slowly, knowing it probably sounded insensitive to make light of a situation that was anything but, “If someone hadn’t found it, you would have never known.” It wasn’t really good consolation, but it was true. Unless brought back from the brink, there was nothing anyone could do about it otherwise.
“Anything is possible,” Sessrumnir repeated when the young knight spoke about not being able to thank the person who saved him. More often than not, Sessrumnir found that he crossed paths with the same people, whether he wanted to or not.
Which probably meant he would be crossing paths with this knight in the future.
“Maybe it will kill me one of these days,” he responded, completely serious, but then took in a small breath. “If doing this job means others don’t have to, then that’s good enough for me.”
It was more or less the truth. Keeping kids off the street and out of danger was more important than his own well-being. He was at least trained how to fight. This guy in front of him looked like he’d never been in a fight in his life.
“Sessrumnir,” he said after a moment, figuring if this guy decided he wanted to continue trying to fight the good fight, it was good to have a connection. Even if it was him. Good enough until he found someone else.
“That’s my name. And if you’re as new as you sound, I’m willing to bet that you don’t know your name yet.”
How many years had it been since he’d awakened and had to figure things out on his own? And how did he teach someone else to do it? He remembered feeling who he was.
“Try closing your eyes. Focus on who you are. Not your family or friends, but who you are. As corny as it sounds, your starseed should be able to tell you your name and ruling planet.”
Ah, maybe Sessrumnir was more of a pushover than he cared to be. Others didn’t get off as easy as this guy. Maybe Pendour’s magic had some kind of permanent effect on him.
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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 9:53 pm
He expected some sort of joke to come out of a statement like 'Maybe it will kill me one of these days,' but he'd known Sessrumnir for three minutes and already got the impression that he absolutely was not the sort of person who knew how to make a joke.
Still, he was treating this conversation with a bit more approachability, and Belmont unsquare his shoulders just a bit.
He wanted to insist that he knew who he was, he was Aiden Hunter, and he was finally getting some answers.
...But something about that sounded wrong, so he listened to what the Knight side and closed his eyes. A part of him expected Sessrumnir to use the opportunity to run away while he was disadvantaged, but he couldn't imagine the man high tailing it out of there like some cartoon character. He cleared his mind, albeit with great difficulty, and drew in one slow breath. In, and out. In, and out.
A name appeared in his mind, and it was so heavy it almost felt tangible, hovering between his eyes as if he could read it.
"...Belmont?" he tried, and when he said the name it was like something lit up in his mind, like all the lights had been turned on and he could see. He just didn't know what he was looking at.
He repeated it in his mind a few more times, as if to make sure it felt right, and he wanted to test the name out but didn't want to make a fool of himself.
"And Jupiter."
There was a bit of question in his voice, like he wasn't sure he could be right about something that just popped into his head so suddenly. He had such confidence that he felt like it must be wrong.
Belmont. Jupiter. Easier to remember than Sessrumnir, but he kept that at the forefront of his mind and tried to repeat it rapidly so he could sear it into his brain.
"--Does that mean something?" Of course it meant something. He shifted on his feet and tried to think of a way to salvage the question without making himself look dumb, but he gave up and just planted his hands on his hips to wait for Sessrumnir's answer.
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