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 Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2022 9:14 pm
Backdated to December 22, 2021 Takes place after What choice but simple duty
He had a plan, but it wasn’t as fleshed out as the Queen wanted it. He needed a team. People he could possibly trust, or at least trust that they were loyal enough to the Queen and the Negaverse to want to help him.
“If this isn’t a bad time,” he added, not wanting to interrupt Faustite if he was busy. But then he paused, realizing that he really didn’t have the time to come back later. “Actually… this is important.”
If Faustite wasn’t willing to help him, he would have to figure out something else. Strickenizedx Let me know if this doesn't work or if you need me to edit!
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2022 12:36 pm
It was Faustite who answered the door, but it wasn’t the Faustite that Jet would recognize. This Faustite wore much more black, with eyes to match, and an open-backed uniform that exposed a set of slanted pipes. He did not speak, even as smoke rose in wending, lazy strokes from his back. He only stepped aside and gestured for Jet to enter.
A more familiar Faustite was seated at his desk looking mildly perplexed, but his countenance shifted to relieved as soon as he recognized that Jet came with a distraction. Shifting in his seat, Faustite crossed his legs and set aside his little project, which looked like a melted tablet.
“Jet.” Flame eyes settled on the now-familiar General. A nearly imperceptible shift of his eyes, and he added, “Headache.”
The Faustite who answered the door then dissolved into a swarm of orange fireflies that collected into a corner of the room. Their brilliance cast Faustite in a different light that nearly competed with his own. He straightened up, his hands working the edge of his desk, as usual. “What is it?”
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Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2022 7:14 pm
Jet stared at the strange form of Faustite in front of him, but it wasn’t too much of a surprise since he’d seen Headache before during the orientation. He nodded politely to the youma as he stepped inside and made sure he had the door closed behind him before focusing his attention on Faustite again.
And the melted tablet on his desk.
“You’ve really got to get something better than these tablets that melt,” Jet said with a sigh of exasperation. It had to be a pain to keep replacing them.
But he shook his head, because that wasn’t what he was there for.
“The Queen asked that I put together a team. A backup, I suppose,” he explained as he made his way further into the office, although he watched as Headache turned into fireflies hovering in the corner.
“I’ll probably need you to help save me at some point. The White Moon is up to something, and we’re going to stop them before they get a chance to use their new weapon. You heard about what they did to Aquamarine? Apparently they have something bigger that they want to use. No teleporting. No magic. I doubt your abilities would be exempt,” he added, although youma were unique creatures and they might be able to avoid being caught in whatever it was the White Moon had planned.
“This is top secret. Not even Axinite knows.”
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2022 2:34 am
Faustite's brows furrowed and he squinted at Jet as he spelled out a disaster of an explanation. Or maybe this was how he tried to excite people into joining his team? Faustite thought that Jet was so deep into this project that he hadn't thought to explain the ten-thousand-foot perspective first.
"You suck at pitching. Start from the beginning. Heard about Aquamarine," he thought it hard not to with the way the blonde bitched loudly and frequently, "but I have no context for saving you, why you need backup, what you're doing, how you plan to stop them." He counted off on his fingers each of the absent, yet crucial, pieces of information.
"You'd have my help anyway, but. Communication is critical," he finished, as a gestured to the melted tablet.
Headache descended from its collective perch in the corner and reformed into a nearly perfect image of Jet, though it was using Faustite's posture. Faustite thought it a little jarring, but the idea was solid. "Headache's saying it could help. Mimics things, but it can't speak." He didn't know if that could factor into Jet's plan, whatever that plan happened to be.
He supposed, then, that Jet was only going to tell him after Faustite agreed. He understood the urgency — a great many agents relied on their magic and teleporting abilities, starseeding, and energy draining was utterly critical to their operations. Headache must've, too, to have offered itself so quickly. And Faustite's assistance required no ask.
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2022 5:57 am
Jet bristled at Faustite's critique. He really didn't care if Faustite thought he sucked at presenting his proposal. He hadn't wanted to get other people involved in the first place, so if Faustite decided to not help, then Jet wasn't going to beg.
"I'm not sure what the beginning is," he admitted, a bit warily as he frowned at the new image of himself. "And yeah, Communication is critical. Are you actually going to do something about that or are you just going to have other people issue orders for you for the rest of your existence?" Which as far as Jet was aware, could be a long time for youma.
He turned back to Headache, and while he was appreciative of the offer, Jet wasn't sure he was willing to risk another personal youma of Faustite's.
"We're going after Ganymede," he said bluntly. He would let Faustite take a moment to decide if he changed his mind about Headache's involvement.
"Cymophane has been collecting intelligence about where to find her. In the process he found out that they can guarantee the safety of those willing to purify by using a similar magic to what prevented Aquamarine from teleporting. Only they implied it would be on a much larger scale. Cymophane is going to agree to meet with Ganymede and I'll give them the opportunity to take me instead. That way I can have Arles search for whatever it is they're working on while keeping them distracted. Once he finds it, or I call off the mission, he'll communicate with Aquamarine who will instruct the team to intercept. If successful, I need you to keep the Knight name Sessrumnir distracted while Aquamarine and I subdue Ganymede. Is that better for you?" he asked, his voice a little clipped if only because he was trying to keep his own anxiety down.
The more he talked about what they were going to do, the more nervous he became. They could very well all be walking into a trap, or he could be killed immediately, given his history with Ganymede and her friends.
"And you gotta do something about that ******** Saturn Knight that's been harassing agents about Lysithea. The next time someone goes after one of my recruits, they're going to wish they'd never been born."
He didn't know the Senshi personally, but he knew that others had reported being attacked by a Saturn Knight looking for her. If he wasn't so busy dealing with monitoring the weapon targeting Kerberos and Ganymede and this new, unknown weapon that the White Moon had, he would have been out looking for that a*****e already.
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2022 7:43 pm
Faustite stared at Jet as he struggled to determine if the General was intentionally baiting him after asking his help, or if he was just quick to anger. Faustite secured his tongue carefully. "Have a cat tasked to build a sturdier communicator. That was his first attempt." Faustite understood little about technology in a mundane setting, and even less about the tablets and crystal-powered devices that the cats so easily manipulated. And though Haymitch admitted to disliking tech, he'd gotten far enough to produce a prototype.
But that was neither here nor there, he supposed, as Jet went on. His brows remained furrowed as he scrutinized the information given to him. As he thought, Headache shifted into Haymitch's kitten form, and Faustite waved the youma away.
Cymophane's information concerned Ganymede, and in the same breath, purification — Faustite guessed he fished under that pretext. If that were so, and Jet intended to get captured, then he would probably stage an attack on Cymophane when Ganymede thought she was about to purify Kamacite's friend. Jet must have known to expect an entourage, else he wouldn't be asking Faustite to confront Sessrumnir. But who was a part of the entourage? While Faustite fought Sessrumnir before, what else did the man have beyond his storm glass?
And while Faustite knew Aquamarine would be motivated to track Jet down or destroy the weapon, he thought the curmudgeonly blonde's judgment would be colored too quickly by fear and personal investment to be any good at scouting. It was on Arles, then, to help locate the curious weapon.
"Need to know who else we can expect." Faustite began swiveling back and forth on his stool. "Weapons, magic, anything. Guessing we're dealing with an enemy that knows each other — a longstanding team. Since you're trying to put one together right now, we'll be at another disadvantage."
He paused in his swiveling only when Jet tacked on another barb. "Why the ******** are you implying that I don't do anything in my ******** office?" He stood, and his stool screeched over stone as he flattened his hands against the top of the glass desk. "******** said I would help you. But if you're going to b***h at me that I don't do enough, then what the ******** good is my help to you? Take it or leave and ask someone else. Ashanite, Prehnite, ******** Chrysocolla." Scoffing, he slumped back down onto his stool.
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2022 8:18 pm
Jet kept his mouth shut as Faustite snapped back at him. He sometimes forgot that Faustite was quick to jump to conclusions about things, regardless of intent. He took a moment to take in a breath, and focused instead on the youma turned kitten. Maybe Headache was able to endure Faustite’s explosivity by his inability to talk back easily. He assumed there was some kind of telepathy there, or innate understanding between youma, but he wasn’t sure about tone.
“You’re right,” he agreed, and nodded to Faustite, watching him as he sat back on his stool. “I’m sorry if it sounded like I was implying anything. He attacked my newest recruit, so it’s personal now. But we can worry about the Saturn Knight later. You can share what you’ve been doing already to handle the problem, and I can help with tracking down information and working out a strategy, okay?”
It was the best he could offer at the moment. One thing at a time, he reminded himself. He was already anxious about what he was planning on doing.
“I don’t know what you mean,” he frowned. “Why wouldn’t I put together a team now? I only just discussed with the Queen what I planned on doing. She’s the one that suggested a team.”
Faustite didn’t make any sense. Of course they were putting together a team now, but how was that supposed to be a disadvantage?
He shook his head at himself and continued. “If Ganymede is there, her husband, Valhalla, a Jupiter Knight, will likely be there too. He’s low risk, according to the database. Sessrumnir, Aquamarine and I’ve fought before, although on different occasions. Has a large wolf he can summon, kind of like a personal youma. Ganymede’s mother is a Squire of Venus, but whether it’s an extended family affair, I don’t know. Apparently she’s a healer type. There’s a Page of Jupiter named Empyrean that gave Cymophane the information about the White Moon working on something. He’s familiar with Ganymede and knows how to find her. He’s older, so it might really be a family affair of some kind, but we don’t have the proof. A Super Senshi, Perdita, suggested Cymophane talk to an Eternal named Oberon. But it was Empyrean that showed up instead. Maybe they are all involved. Until we know otherwise, we’ll assume they are.”
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 2:47 am
"Later," he agreed. He was still certain Jet thought he was useless, but who didn't?
Crossing his arms on the desk, Faustite leaned on his elbows. "Guessing you don't know a lot about militaries. In the US, squads or fire teams sleep in the same area, wake together, eat together, train together — for the purpose of knowing each other better than anyone else in their lives. Advantage is that, in combat, they work together better. Know each other's strengths, know what weaknesses to make up for, can predict each other, can respond to changes in combat tactics faster. Make better calls. Rescue each other, or worst case, die for each other. Loyalty is more natural when it comes to people you know.
"Think of it like this: Aquamarine is a part of your team, knows your strats, knows how to coordinate with you. And he'd die for you, wouldn't he? You'd do the same for him?" He paused, looked at Jet.
"A team that knows each other so well will always be advantageous to a team that doesn't. Ganymede's team will respond better, tactically, than the one you're putting together now. From your intel, they've at least known each other for some time. Might have combat experience together for half as long. Whoever you're grabbing, besides Aquamarine, won't know you as well and won't know how to read the field in the context of this group. Doesn't make it a bad team, but it isn't as good as one grown together."
And he wouldn't be surprised if Jet walked out on that explanation. Faustite understood well that Jet needed him to fight Sessrumnir, and no part of that required him to talk. He simply had to do what he was told. For that, he rather envied Headache — it never had to stumble through conversations.
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 5:26 pm
“My older brother and I were orphaned in a car accident when we were young and dumped into the foster system. Somehow managed to survive that hellhole for eight years. Soon after my brother turned eighteen he won custody of me and got me out. I then found out he was a Negaverse Captain the same night he was killed by a Senshi in front of me. I joined the Negaverse immediately after his death. I became emancipated by the State, passed a test to get out of Hillworth so I could focus on working full time during the day, and the Negaverse at night. I didn’t really have a General to guide me. The one that awakened my powers disappeared soon after. Cinnabar gave me pointers for a while until she disappeared too. Just found out she defected. Was promoted to General when I was sixteen. All of my recruits have been Senshi. I play the piano and I’m pretty damn good at it.”
He paused for a moment, wondering if maybe that was a little too much detail to get into, but Faustite said that people were more willing to be loyal when they knew someone better, right?
“I’m sorry I didn’t have a team in mind sooner. I need people with experience. Preferably other Generals, but experienced Captains would do. I was planning on asking you, Prehnite, Lopezite, and Bloodstone to assist. The Queen trusts you all and that’s good enough for me. I’ve never had a team for longer than one mission, so maybe you can give me some pointers? Although… I don’t think sleeping with you will help. No offense. Aquamarine is my partner.”
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 6:09 pm
"That's — not…" Faustite covered his face with his hands as he felt a deep flush overtake his cheeks.
Now he was imagining sleeping with Jet. Just as he did when the General pulled him out of the burning Farnsworth, not long after Squiddy was dusted. Just like he was for days after when he started idly looking into who it was that saved him, and if he was single.
Now he knew, unbidden, much more than he expected to learn about Jet without prying into his file. He wasn't sure if he was to say 'thank you' or 'I'm sorry', considering that he got the information, but Jet's upbringing sounded shitty for all that it demanded that Jet grow up early, and settled for neither. He wasn't sure how to navigate the complex social exchange that this suddenly became, and felt all the more flustered for it; he was certain his youma nature's hindrance was obvious, now.
"… That's a start, but knowing someone includes their proclivities. For example, knowing that someone prefers taking the high ground when they may not know it themselves. It's — I'll lend you a book." Faustite huffed, now doubly frustrated with himself. He thought about apologizing for hearing about Jet's brother, but sympathies didn't seem appropriate. They always felt empty to him.
Faustite shifted about on his stool uncomfortably, and settled for slouching forward and leaning on his elbows as he did before. "When do you plan to brief the team for this?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 7:13 pm
Jet blinked curiously at Faustite’s reaction, not sure what it meant. Why was he blushing? Although Jet’s eyebrows did furrow slightly at the use of Faustite’s fancy words. He didn’t have Aquamarine around to translate for him. Luckily Faustite wasn’t as bad as Prehnite when it came to saying things he didn’t understand.
He was a simple, straightforward man who didn’t need any flourish, but he nodded in agreement when Faustite offered to lend him a book.
“That’s the problem,” Jet frowned this time, knowing Faustite would probably scold him about not doing a briefing. “I don’t know when this will happen. I don’t know who will be involved. I don’t know if they’ll decide to kill me instead of taking me as a prisoner. I’m banking on Ganymede’s record of not being known to kill, but I could very well be an exception to this.”
He paused again before continuing. “If something does happen to me… I mean, I know Aquamarine is a pain in the a** to deal with, but he’s not going to take me dying very well. He’ll probably do something stupid. I told the Queen that I would return in one piece, so I couldn’t ask this of her, but if I don’t make it back, can you please make sure someone takes care of Aqua? Obviously it doesn’t have to be you, just…” He stopped to pull in a deep breath and let it out slowly, a bit more shakily than he intended.
“Anyway… once they have me, you’re welcome to try and get Aquamarine to brief everyone, but until then…”
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Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2022 10:02 am
Once he was sure his face wasn't as red as his fire, Faustite jumped back into the conversation. "Plan for what we control, then. You mentioned Prehnite, Lopezite, and Bloodstone. Better we train together, work out some tactics, while we wait. The better we are with each other, the higher the chances of a successful extraction."
He understood Jet's need to create a plan for Aquamarine in a worst case scenario — he could imagine the blonde walking his pedestrian self through the fingered double doors of the Hall of Shadows to be destroyed by the denizens therein.
He swallowed his old grief, shelved it in the back of his mind as best it would fit. Some of the strain laced his voice, but not enough, he hoped, that Jet would find it detectable. "He'll be kept alive. Might not be pleasant at first, but." Jet was asking a youmafied officer, after all. "Will see that he survives you if it comes to that."
It was curious, watching Jet's sensitivities. He always projected such a put-together persona as to seem unshakeable.
"You're sure he can perform under duress? You're trusting him to find a weapon while they have you hostage, or dead. Quite the ask for someone who's emotionally compromised."
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2022 6:07 am
"Aquamarine's primary interest would be to make sure I got back alive. If we go through with this at all," he added. "When it's time, he'll be the one to make the final decision for me to move forward or not. If he can't handle it, or if he thinks that I won't be able to handle it, or if the timing is wrong and I've been blinded to the mission-- Aquamarine will be the one to call it off if necessary."
They would lose their advantage with Cymophane. They might be crippled by whatever weapon the White Moon was hiding. They might have to hang their head in shame in front of the Queen. But they would still be alive to try again at some point -- if they were given that opportunity.
"I trust Aquamarine above all others, especially when it comes to me and my goals," Jet reiterated, not wanting Faustite to think he was confusing Aquamarine's loyalty for blindness.
"He's saved me before -- realized I was missing when no one else did. He's been injured in my stead before, just to protect me. He might be horrible when it comes to working with others, but no one really gives him a chance. They see this bitchy, always irritated boy and don't give him the time of day. He says things he doesn't always mean, or people judge him and think the worst of him. Assume things about him. But I can assure you that he can absolutely perform under duress as long as I'm still alive."
He would just have to find a way to make sure he stayed alive.
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Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2022 2:11 pm
Faustite considered Jet's vouching for Aquamarine. He'd seen some of it, circuitously — Aqua's support during the Farnsworth operation, and in the Rift afterward. The surly blonde was ever at Jet's side, and they both fulfilled their parceled duties with few problems. Initially, Faustite thought that Aquamarine was riding Jet's coattails and succeeding based off of Jet's merits, but Jet spoke of a different Aquamarine than the one Faustite understood.
Worse was the feeling of intestines he lacked starting to twist. Some arcane, vestigial human reaction that had him chewing the inside of his cheek as Jet went on. He spoke of how others saw Aqua and Faustite's gaze shifted off of him, taking up interested instead in the lightly burnt papers that still scattered his desk, and the melted communicator next to them. Luckily, Jet didn't have much more to add.
When he finished, Faustite took up a pen. "You mentioned Bloodstone, Lopezite, and Prehnite." He'd seen each of them in the Queen's throne room, and employed each of them in the Rift previously. He jotted the three names in the corner of a mostly intact page.
"Will get in touch with them. Arrange some training." Better that they developed their call signs early, learned when to cover each other, and when to keep away when it came to Faustite's flames.
They see this bitchy, always irritated boy and don't give him the time of day. He says things he doesn't always mean, or people judge him and think the worst of him. Assume things about him.
The corner of Faustite's mouth twitched. "Don't want to keep you any longer, General. You've a busy itinerary."
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