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 Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2021 9:49 am
Immediately follows As Above, 2 Nov 2021She hadn't known what to expect when they left the moon that night. But they were returned to silence, and the absence of the Negaverse. Scylla had gotten her sister to help hustle Caedus away to the mansion, swinging by the city house to grab Hope and Aidan and tucking them all in the car and hitting the gas. Hope hadn't even woke up as she was tucked into her other bed, and Aidan hadn't asked any questions about Jada's bloody wounds, taking in the exhaustion on the faces of his sisters, and the very, very tall stranger who had joined them. Her mind was mostly blank as she pointed out a few things of import to the alien King, drawing the drapes on the ground floor as they moved, double-checking all of the locks and making sure every possible level of the security system was set. She was not going to be the person that Lost Caedus after they had spent so much energy and effort saving him. She made sure he knew where the library was, where the kitchen was, closed doors to unnecessary rooms both to provide extra security and make the massive house as linear and non-confusing as possible for him. She had gotten Giulia in the bath, checking her for bruises and bumps and fussing over the kick that the girl had taken to her middle. She'd grounded her. Twice. (She had grounded Aidan, too, for not stopping his twin.) She had shown Caedus to a guest suite, made sure that he had everything he would need to get clean. Found some of the old clothes she'd bought him years ago that she'd shoved away, so he wouldn't have to wear 'I almost died in these' clothes. She had a mental breakdown in the shower. And now she was sitting in an oversized loveseat in the library upstairs, wearing warm pajama pants and a tank top, sipping on cocoa, letting her hair dry as she stared blankly at the fireplace, first aid kit open and untouched in front of her. Along with a few extra mugs, just in case there were any other insomniacs in the house who could use some cocoa. Her mind was blank, she was exhausted, she couldn't sleep. She could only see Caedus, the betrayal on his face. Lyndin, wounded and determined. Wolframite, her blood on his claws. Valeria, flying through the air and falling, falling, landing- Tonight felt like a terrible, terrible loss. And all she could do was stare blankly, feeling the horror close on her mind in as adrenaline faded and the pain in her body set in.
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2021 7:44 pm
Caedus probably should have gotten used to the human glamour he could wear, but it felt like a skin he couldn’t clean, and every opportunity he had to be in his own form, he took. He was tired, and agreeable to nearly every suggestion after they’d left the Moon. Jada had given him a basic tour, be he hadn’t retained much of any of it. He nodded absently, perhaps convincing enough, but the reality was that as soon as he entered the shower, he very nearly forgot where he was entirely. He lost sense of time, lost sense of place, lost sense of self. He wasn’t used to the gratuitous bathing habits Earth permitted, and the Velencian in him told him to get in, get out. Don’t waste water. But, he did. For nearly an hour, he stood under too hot water, letting it p***k at his skin on the outside as thoughts and memories slowly pricked at him from the inside. He didn’t know when, if ever, he’d feel like his memories were real. The whole night was a blur, and he danced around the reality of all of it. He still felt guilty. He still felt wrong. He’d dressed in the borrowed clothes and sat on the edge of the bed for a while, but even with as exhausted as he was, sleep didn’t come to him. It felt wrong, sitting still. So, he thought he’d pace--in the safety of this house, where no one knew to find him. He kept to the shadows, out of habit and because he wasn’t wearing any glamour. It was only a matter of time before he found Jada, and when he did he fleetingly thought that she looked as lost as he felt. Quietly, he walked across the room, and his bones didn’t crack or groan once as he lowered himself to the couch next to her. “...You are not asleep,” he pointed out, more a question than an observation.
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Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2021 9:32 pm
His tired docility on the tour was vaguely distressing but not surprising; with her own exhaustion and everything he had been through tonight- starseed ripped away for a bit and all- she could hardly blame him. And so she just... repeated what she thought he might need to know and did her best to see that he had at least acknowledged the human comforts offered. And when he slipped out of the darkness, joining her on the couch in front of the fire, Jada didn't flinch or jump. She was hyper-aware of every croak and creak and groan within earshot. "You aren't asleep either," she countered, and adjusted to gesture to the first aid kit and the cocoa in front of her. Did he need a drink? she had plenty more alcoholic drinks she could pour for him- a little kahlua for his cocoa? He deserved it. "The clothes fit better than I thought they would, considering I bought them for you three years ago," she said, instead of offering him alcohol, "Did you enjoy your shower? Have any wounds you need bandaged?" Her own were still open to the air for the moment. She'd cover them before she slept. The plus side of being a senshi- Scylla took care of her. She had so many questions, but right now all she wanted to do was stare at the fire and be.... relieved. Her friend was safe. Her sister was safe. Marlo was... unconscious, but safe. Elzo was going to be a pain. .... So, all things considered, Jada had made it out while maintaining the status quo.
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Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2021 6:11 am
For a moment, Caedus did not answer. His breathing was slow, like maybe his body had forgotten he needed air at all until it pushed itself to the furthest limits. His eyelids were heavy and he seemed out of place in his own skin. Here, too, maybe. He knew Jada cared for him, but a part of him couldn’t help but wonder if she was only asking so many questions so he could avoid asking any of her. If that was her plan, it failed. “The shower was nice. I have no injuries to bandage. You do not look as if you can say the same. I would like to help, if you would let me. I am worried about you. I wanted to check in on you. To ask if you were okay.” He didn’t look at her; the fire was an easy excuse for a distraction.
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Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2021 3:02 pm
His breathing was slow- too slow? Was he hurt? No, his breathing was silent enough, and he didn't seem to be struggling for it. She tried to keep her hands busy, for fear that her mind would shoot off in a random direction if she didn't, or that the evening's strain would show and her body would just... vibrate into pieces, or something. She couldn't fall apart- Jada had too much on her plate. Too much to do. She needed to keep control of this moment of weakness. The group of people she wanted to get together- her Thorns. This was why. They had all done fine on their own. But if they had all- No. Breathe. TAKE the moment. I have no injuries to bandage. But he wasn't uninjured. How could he not be? His... friend... had betrayed him. And not for a reason Jada couldn't understand. If she hadn't been so attached to Caedus as a person- but even then, she'd left him to die, to try and run off to help her fellow senshi. Did she dese- "I'm a bit scraped up," she agreed, somehow managing to blithely minimize her wounds while still sounding.... tired... "I could probably use the help." she gestured to the kit again. "Thank you." Was she okay? Jada blew out air through her nose, leaning back and appraising him. This is why people fought for you to have a choice. You had your starseed ripped out and you're still worrying about me. Or maybe he just didn't want to face his own day. Honestly- it was a mood. "Tonight isn't in my top five worst nights. Not in my top five best either, that's for damn sure." There was a breath of silence before she said, quietly, "There was a lot to unpack from tonight. But my family is safe. You're safe. And those facts are more important than anything else to me right now."
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Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 8:17 pm
Caedus did not meet her gaze when her eyes were on him, and he seemed grateful to have the opportunity to busy himself with opening the kit. He wasn’t the best at first aid but he could put a bandage on, he could clean a wound. He nodded, maybe more out of habit than knowing what he was agreeing to. He fell silent for a while longer as he pulled out supplies and busied himself with examining her injuries. It was taking him a bit more time than normal to decide what he wanted to say, and when he spoke it sounded like he was doubting himself again. “I am glad your family is safe. I am glad that you are safe. I am fortunate that you were there to look after me.” He was trying very hard to keep himself composed but he wasn’t particularly convincing. His brows were knit and his lips were pressed tightly. He looked thin, and tired, in that time-worn way that came so easily to him. “...I am sorry for all of this. I know I have said it before. I will say it again. I am lacking in other words, and I do not know what to do. Is there anything I can do for you, Jada? Anything. For anyone. But mostly you, for now.”
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