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 Posted: Thu May 19, 2022 7:38 pm
When he left Sylvite…left…Nectaris…or whatever her new, stupid name was, he hadn’t planned on going anywhere, so when he found himself in the corner of Jace’s office of all places, Gismondine blinked, staring at Xander’s brother with a stupid look on his face.
Truthfully, he hadn’t seen or talked to Jace in…well. In a long time, and the sight of him brought the always ready tears to his eyes, and before the Captain could think anything better of it, he teleported again, this time right atop of Jace, straddling him in his fancy leather chair and staring down at the male, hoping to look frightening. The fact that the room blurred with tears didn’t…add to the frightening image, and when he grabbed the front of the male’s shirt and pressed his face into it, howling in pure, unwavering sorrow, he didn’t bother to think about the fact that Jace wouldn’t know him.
That Jace would be afraid. That…
That Jace would most likely, well. If he were sane at least…would push him away. Call security. Call the police. Do…something.
But now that the dam had been broken…
There was nothing more that Gismondine could do.
Grief for Xander. For Sylvite. For Q and Cavansite and Parisite poured out of him as he sobbed into the lawyer’s chest as though the world were ending.
…It sure as hell felt like it was, at least.
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Posted: Thu May 19, 2022 7:58 pm
Jace was doing another late night at the office. He had no distractions anymore, just work. His mother was as happy as she’d ever been–not that it was saying much–with his budding career. Still nitpicking. Still overbearing. Still micromanaging and scolding.
But, he wasn’t making her look bad. She was scant with her praise, but there was an ever growing hole and he was desperate for anything.
Everyone he was close to seemed farther and farther away.
He’d celebrated his first victory in court alone.
He didn’t make friends.
Injected himself into social circles where necessary, put on a good front for everyone else, played a part. Worked until he exhausted himself. Went home and went to bed. Woke up and did it all over again.
And then, someone broke into his office.
At first, he stared at the man who had appeared suddenly across the room and tried to figure out if he’d come in through the window, or a vent, or–
No, he teleported. Right into his lap.
So, the Negaverse? Something else?
And then, they were pressed into his chest, sobbing.
Jace was not good with emotions. He didn’t know what to do when the tears started flowing. He bristled, and he froze. His heart was in his throat, not because of fear but because he didn’t know what you were supposed to do when someone started crying like that. So, he sat there, paralyzed and confused, and wondered if the pen he’d been writing with was any sort of weapon if this went south.
When he finally found an opening to speak, he asked, “Do I know you?”
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 8:45 am
Jace didn’t hold him or soothe him, but honestly, Gismondine hadn’t expected him to. They had never really been that close, even if he had thought they were friends, at least. He thought that…while this wouldn’t be welcomed he would at least…understand…and would…
But Jace’s words made him stop, his whole body cold. Did…he know him? What…what kind of a question was that? Did Jace know him? Had he forgotten him? Had it been so long had…
Gismondine pulled away, looking hurt and confused and so unbearably broken.
“...Y-you…” He sniffled and raised a hand to wipe at his damp face, and then noticed that he was powered up.
…Oh.
Obviously Jace didn’t know him. He was Gismondine, not Nelson. Of course Jace didn’t know him.
Swiftly he drew away, scrubbing his face again and putting a cool, uninterested…well. trying to put on a cool an uninterested expression. “Captain Gismondine. You don’t know me, no. But. A-apologies for this interruption. I simply.”
Simply what?
Simply…had a breakdown and wanted some comfort?
Quickly, he began to pull energy from the male, giving a silent apology as he did so. “I simply n-needed to fill my quota.”
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 9:02 am
No, there was something wrong about this. He didn’t know how the Negaverse agents could teleport–but out of everywhere he could have gone for energy, he came into his private office? And hoped that someone would be here after hours, late at night?
There were plenty of other places he could have gone. Was someone in the office a Negaverse Agent? And came here to…
Crying seemed to be the priority, actually.
Jace didn’t know what to make of it.
“No,” he said firmly. This guy wasn’t here because he knew he was a Knight. Jace might not have understood what was going on, but he wasn’t going to get all weak and wimpery just because someone was straddling him and talking about draining his energy.
“I don’t know what quota you’ve got to fill here, this is an office. No solicitors. Why don’t you tell me why you’re crying, what’s going on? Are you in trouble?”
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 10:27 am
He stared at Jace, confused now, utterly confused and…somewhat unhappy. But. Not…not completely unhappy. He finally shrugged. “I’m not in tr-trouble, don’t worry. Why do you care, anyway?”
Gismondine continued to pull energy from him, and then slipped the small ball into his subspace pocket. “It's just been a long day.” It was easier to keep the stutter from his voice when he was half mortified and trying desperately to focus. He couldn’t allow Jace to know who he was.
“I’m not in trouble. I’m simply tired. I appreciate your concern and the energy you have g-given to our cause.”
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 10:40 am
Jace was tired. Perpetually tired. More tired now that this guy had taken his energy and he’d seen it.
He couldn't power up to stop it without outing himself. He could have picked up the paperweight next to him and bashed his head in but he really didn’t want to make a scene here in his office. If he got blood all over? If he had a corpse? If Jace made enemie with the Negaverse?
It was just asking for trouble that he couldn’t risk. He’d worked too hard to lose it all now.
So, why did he care? Aside from the fact that some Captain had literally sought him out to cry on him and then seemed like he was scrambling to cover his tracks by draining his energy? Did he think that if he drained enough that Jace was going to forget about this, or…?
So, he answered, “You’re sitting on my lap. Crying. People come to me when they need help.”
Okay, not exactly. He’d taken up a few cases on behalf of the victims, because he wanted to actually do good, not defend scumbags with money. But, he was still walking a careful line in doing what she wanted and doing what he wanted, and until he established himself a bit more he knew he was walking on eggshells.
But. He wanted to help people. Real people. Good people.
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 4:43 pm
He swallowed. “Perhaps it was simply an…an accident. Perhaps I just. Didn’t realize where I was going. It’s possible and can happen to anyone, after all.”
Gismondine pulled himself off of Jace’s lap and drew a few steps away, trying to school his face into something calmer than it felt, but…God it was so difficult. He wanted to cry again. Wanted to rage and scream and just…confess everything to the male in front of him. One who was suffering from many of the same losses that he was.
It…it hurt so badly but. Perhaps…this would.
Maybe he…as Nelson could go to Jace. Maybe they could start talking again. Maybe…eventually he could cry against his friend…because they were, right? Not the best of friends but. They had been friends.
“I need no help. It was simply…simply a type of imbalance, but. I appreciate your willingness to assist our…our cause.”
He should leave. He should leave right now…and go home and…
Try to forget that any of this night had ever happened.
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 4:55 pm
“...I don’t know what your cause is,” he pointed out. “You don’t have to thank me, you’ve robbed me. I didn’t really get a say in it.”
He wanted to go home. He was tired. Willpower and a fear of weakness kept him awake, but he rested hands on the armrests of his seat. He wasn’t sure if he could push himself up right now or if he’d wind up needing to rest for a few minutes. Probably shouldn’t drive home like this. He could get a ride home, whatever. The car would be fine for a night.
“I don’t think you came here by accident. So if you’re in trouble I can help. If you don’t need help, fine. I won’t keep you here. I don’t appreciate unscheduled visits to my office. I don’t know how you got in here, but if you’re going to take someone’s energy or whatever, take it from someone with less work to do.”
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2022 4:59 pm
Gismondine opened his mouth, intending to argue, to protest to…to something. But instead he only withdrew the energy from his subspace pocket and allowed it to go back to Jace, looking away. “Fine.”
He couldn't talk anymore. Couldn’t stay here. Couldn’t keep proving that he wasn’t cut out for this…but.
For a moment, all the Captain could do was look at Jace, his eyes filling with stupid useless tears once again, and then he gave a stiff nod and teleported out of the office.
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