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 Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2022 5:09 pm
Thankfully, there were many soft spaces in Sylvite’s office. The effort of teleporting again had exhausted Gismondine far past his strength, and he lay with his head pillowed on one of the larger stuffed bears, even as he held on in his arms, vaguely pretending that it was Sylvite who held him. Or Xander. Or even Parisite, or his sister. Any of the people who were gone. Who left him behind. Who didn’t think he was worth keeping around.
His eyes were rather vacant as he lay there, tears slowly oozing from them. He was too tired to properly cry. Too tired to do much of anything, and the little sleep he did manage to get was torn apart by dreams. Dreams of hands on his neck, dreams of death. Why hadn’t he just died? All of the times that he felt the cold hands on him, the promise of peace…why hadn’t they just let him die? Why hadn’t he just let himself die?
What was the point of saving someone who you were just going to leave anyway? Wasn’t that cruel? Getting someone’s hopes up. Making them think that they mattered when really…
They were as useless as they figured that they were.
Gismondine had sunk into another half doze, holding the teddy bear closer. At least, enough of a doze…or stupor that he didn’t register the fact that a stronger aura had entered the office.
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 1:21 pm
“You shouldn’t be in here. People might think you’re tampering with evidence,” Jet said as he spotted the Captain curled up with one of Sylvite’s teddy bears.
It wasn’t difficult to assume that this young man was one of Sylvite’s recruits, or at least someone on her team. He let out a quiet sigh and took a few steps into the room so he could lean against the abandoned desk and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Are you pissed at her, too? She said we were friends. That she wanted to be friends with everyone, and then she betrayed all of us,” he frowned up at the ceiling, as though that could give him some clarity as to why she would think the White Moon was worth anything, especially after the tortured her.
Maybe he was just talking to himself and the Captain didn’t actually have that close of a relationship with Sylvite, but he must have felt something for her if he was hiding in her office.
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Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2022 8:08 am
Gismondine was surprised that his eyes didn’t crack when he opened them. They were sore and rather…crusty from poorly dried tears. He had very nearly startled at the voice in the room, would have startled but…he was just too tired. “...Evidence?”
His voice was hoarse and confused by the word, the idea. “...She’s gone, if you’re looking for her, she’s just gone. Left me. I know I’m a lousy member of the organization, I wasn’t supposed to last more than a few minutes…but I am trying.” Gismondine swallowed, not wanting to start sobbing again in front of a stranger but.
This was simply too much. Sylvite abandoning him was simply too much. He prided himself on at least being…somewhat strong inside his heart and mind, even if it didn’t translate to his words or actions but…
He couldn't stand it anymore.
“I’m not pissed…I just don’t understand. It just must…must be me, I think…” He reached up a hand, wiping his face, and then scrubbed his eyes on his coat sleeve. “...Her name’s Nectaris, now. Said she protected the ‘world and Moon and stuff.’ Do I need to write a report…? I want to take one of these bears, please…so if it’s evidence to find her…she’s already gone.”
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Posted: Mon May 02, 2022 1:04 pm
His eyes narrowed at the information that Sylvite’s name was Nectaris. He knew she had turned traitor and was now a Knight, but he hadn’t heard what her name was yet. From what he understood, Faustite either hadn’t learned that information, or hadn’t told him yet.
“A report would be beneficial after crossing paths with the enemy, yes,” Jet said, but it wasn’t harsh. He also sighed at the hang up on his evidence comment. He probably shouldn’t have been making jokes about that, anyway.
“I'm Jet, if you didn't already know. What’s your name? When you say it must be you, what do you mean? Is it because you’re having trouble understanding, or think it might be your fault that she betrayed us?”
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Posted: Mon May 02, 2022 6:58 pm
“Captain Gismondine. I just mean. It’s not the first General who’s disappeared. My first one was General Cavansite, and Captain Parisite…they both vanished one day too. And the one who brought me in. I mean. He died right away, which…was what I was supposed to do too, that’s why he did it. New fodder for the insane senshi who likes to strangle people but. Because of Parisite I survived it. And then survived it again. And then General Sylvite…she took me in, and I got to become a Captain. I worked so hard. I wanted to make her proud..but. I wasn’t enough.”
He swallowed and wiped swiftly at his eyes, shrugging. “My boyfriend vanished on me too. And my sister. It’s just. I must simply be so useless and repulsive that people want to leave. Or. Purify. Leave me behind.”
Gismondine swallowed and hated that his eyes welled up with tears. “...I knew she was unhappy. One of the people that…I mean, I guess she had a bunch of us under her. But there was a party that he threw for her to try and make her smile, and it worked…but.”
Drawing in a breath, he looked up at Jet. “...Guess they weren’t enough either. So. Maybe that’s just that. Maybe none of us were enough.”
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Posted: Mon May 02, 2022 7:49 pm
“Whoever is trying to sell that bullshit should be reported to the General Sovereign of your preference, if you don’t want to go to the Queen herself,” Jet growled. This wasn’t the first time he’d heard people talking about fodder.
“They’re wrong. And if they believe that then they’re sorely misinformed. If we needed fodder we would take your starseed and be done with it. If we needed bodies we would have the youma that get returned to the Rift once they’ve depleted their energy. Why would we waste our energy just to have an agent killed?”
Jet was very passionate about how everyone in the Negaverse had potential. Even if they thought they were pathetic or whatever manipulation they were being fed, there was still room to grow and improve.
He wasn’t angry with the Captain, and he did his best not to sound like any of his frustration was directed towards him. He was angry at Sylvite and at all of those pathetic agents who had been tricked by the White Moon.
“I’m sorry she left you behind. I’m sorry it seems like you were left behind by anyone else. But you weren’t the only one ‘left behind’. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and realize that those people failed you. Not the other way around. Do you understand? They had the responsibility to make sure you grew stronger, and they didn't. That's on them.”
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Posted: Mon May 02, 2022 8:00 pm
Gismondine seemed to shrink into himself at the words. At the tone. At the anger. Even if it wasn’t directed at him…it…stung.
“I…I guess…I didn’t…th-think of it that way…w-will I get a n-new General…? Or…do I h-have to muddle through on my own…?” His stutter was back, so at least Jet’s words seemed to have pierced through some of the overwhelming melancholy that had overtaken him…that…
Well. That was something at least.
“...If…if it’s all the same. I don’t…think I could handle being on my own…I would…I would like a new General…um. Please. And…if I can get more information on her…on Nectaris…I will. I…was too shocked to really…do much other than…um. Not…cry…but…”
…Even that hadn’t really worked, had it.
“...I’ll be better next time…”
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Posted: Mon May 02, 2022 8:36 pm
There were people in the Negaverse who were sensitive, maybe more so than Metallia would prefer, but they all had their uses.
No, uses wasn’t right. They weren’t just tools. They were parts of something bigger, and each person who was lured away just meant one step closer to them losing the Earth to those who would rather have it destroyed.
The Senshi and Knights couldn’t protect their own homeworlds or wonders. Why should they be expected to protect Earth?
“I made it on my own without a General,” Jet shared, although not without sympathy. There was still frustration, but he knew there were others who weren’t like him. Who didn’t have a goal in mind or a purpose to drive them. Another General would be useful.
But who? Faustite had plenty of people under him, but with someone as damaged as Gismondine, they might need a more delicate touch. Definitely not Aquamarine.
“Have you ever met General Ashanite before? I can contact him and see what his availability is like. And no one is making you be better. Just do what you can. If you need to just regroup and figure out things, then do that. You’re not fodder. No one is, despite what the White Moon tries to trick you into believing.”
He paused for a moment, sighed, and opened his subspace pocket to pull out some water and… well, he didn’t have a tissue, but there was a box on the shelf near Sylvite’s desk. Whether it was hers or someone else who came in to cry, he didn’t know. He held them both out to Gismondine.
“Breathe.”
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2022 8:05 pm
Gismondine swallowed and took the water, took the tissues and tried to breathe. He managed to stop trembling enough, to calm down enough to drink half of the waterbottle and blew his nose, nodding slowly after a long moment.
“...Of course you made it without a General…you seem…you seem l-like you know what you’re doing. Like you have some kind of…of idea of who you are…I…I don’t know General Ashanite…I…would like another General…if he will take me, I would like to meet him…I…”
He downed the rest of the water bottle, and then crushed it out of a nervous habit, twisting it so it would be easy to recycle and putting the cap back on it before giving a small sniffle. “...I can…I can reach out to him, if you want me to or…if you would…I would appreciate it very much.”
Gismondine drew in a breath and let it out very slowly, and then looked at the tissue box, before stuffing it into his subspace pocket along with the bear that he was keeping. Both items would be useful…and he shoved a second small bear in there as well…wondering if…well.
If he could give it to Sylvite and try to get her to just come back. To realize she made a mistake.
“I…I will get stronger…”
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 7:30 am
Jet snorted in mild amusement, but shook his head to hopefully make it clear that he was laughing at the comment and not at Gismondine.
“I was fourteen. I had no idea what I was doing. I had no family, no real skills. Everything I tried doing I ended up doing wrong, or I ran into things without thinking and ended up getting hurt. Not having a General wasn’t my choice, but things were a bit more… chaotic back then. More eat or be eaten. I hope that’s not the case now. And if it is, I want to make sure that changes.”
He paused, because it was hard to believe that he’d been in the Negaverse for nearly eight years.
Sorin would have been twenty-six.
“I’ll get in contact with General Ashanite. He’s… got a lot of confidence,” Jet said as he glanced up at the ceiling, as though that would give him strength to continue showering Ashanite with praise.
No, it wasn’t praise. Just observation.
“He has been in the Negaverse for a while. Has a lot of people under him. He might, uh, talk a lot, but he’s good to go to if you need something.” He just hoped Gismondine wouldn’t be talked to death.
“I know you’ll get stronger. But for now just do what you can.”
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 11:12 am
“I hope…that you had a choice in joining, at least…” Gismondine drew in a slow breath and then forced himself to stand, giving a small nod to Jet. “...I really, really appreciate this. I’m…I’m sorry for being so weak…I’ll go and put in my report on her and…I’ll do what I can to…”
To what? To bring her back? To force her back?
To punish Sylvite for leaving?
…Maybe that was the best answer, honestly.
“I’ll do what I can to make you proud since you took the time to help me. And I won’t allow this…won’t allow this to…to go…to…” He shook his head, rubbing at his eyes. “...I should go take a nap…I’m. Very tired. Thank you again, Jet. I appreciate it…Appreciate everything.”
Taking in a deep breath, Gismondine closed his eyes and forced himself to teleport back to the city, as close from home as he dared.
It was fine. He could go and fall on his face the moment he managed to make it home and…that was going to be okay. He would be okay.
…He’d have to be.Guine FIN? Wanna do laz thigns????
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