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 Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2022 1:58 am
Since the start of the Star Festival, the weather around Destiny City had continued heating up. Part of that was easily contributed to the summer months- but for a while there, she was convinced there was something else going on that wasn’t Mother Nature related or global warming at its finest. A couple of days ago, the power in their neighborhood had gone out; too many people running their ACs that the power grid couldn’t handle the draw on it. Everyone was miserable for it. Fiona definitely. However, Breana seemed more or less unphased. Where most people, especially her sister, got overheated at about 85 to 95 degrees, she felt fairly comfortable. Not ideal temperatures, but also not unbearable. Fi had retreated to the ice rink; not only were they at capacity from people fleeing the heat, but also Breana was certain that her twin was likely laying on the ice after closing hours just to stay cool. It did however make her worried that her sister might get weather whiplash from going between frigid temperatures to sweltering heat just by stepping over the threshold of where she worked. The thing about extreme temperatures was that while it’s possible to bundle up and layer on the blankets in the winter months, when things heated up there was only so much a person could take off to stay comfortable. Which- sometimes that wasn’t a bad thing… For the absolute briefest of moments, the fleeting image of a Page came to mind. Not any just Page, no. But one with dark violet hair, gorgeous slate-blue eyes, and arms that would make anyone swoon at the thought of touching them let alone imagining a hug and- “Ok… That’s enough of that.” Breana forced herself to banish those thoughts. Never once had she thought of someone in such a way, especially after only really meeting a handful of times. inappropriate she scolded herself and repositioned herself on the woven hammock outside and laid back so she could look out at the cloudless sky. Out here it was a comfortable 72 degrees; still too warm out for most people's standards but for her, it was perfect. A pillow rested behind her head while the mosquito lantern burned about ten feet away. Another thing she detested about the heat was the number of bugs that came along with it. That was probably more unbearable than feeling incredibly gross before the end of the day and desperately wanting a shower. At least it was quiet out; the neighbor's dog had gone quite over an hour ago and thankfully the frog that had found itself caught in the pool tarp had finally been found and released because its croaking was driving everyone up the wall. It was like a desperate plea to ‘please kill me’ or ‘please let me out’. Either way, at least the sound had stopped. Gazing upwards she spotted the Big Dipper, and with one arm she extended a hand out towards her world. “Why don't you want m?” she asked of it, and yet the light remained unchanging. Not once had she felt a pull and it made her wonder if she should just treat Eleonora like she would a friend that had been ghosting her and just show up and make a scene of it. Ask out loud ‘ what the ********>’. Not that she’d expect any form of an answer. But the idea amused her greatly.
Her arm lowered and once more her thoughts drifted back to Antisana, to Indra, and without really realizing it, those thoughts turned to action as she picked her phone up and opened her contact list, and began typing a message to him. His Knight ring was definitely convenient, but this was all she had in ways to communicate with him.
Quote: Hi there. This is Breana.
Quote: I know it’s kind of late out now. You’re probably already asleep, or trying to. But I was wondering if you wanted to meet up tomorrow? I know it’s late notice, but I was thinking of going to the reservoir for a few hours if you’d like to join me. Let me know in the morning. Take care!
The phone was then set on the hammock beside her as she took the opportunity to close her eyes and relax as the air around her gradually cooled.
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Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2022 8:18 am
"Thank you very much," Indra murmured softly to the convenience store clerk as he slid his sack of always just Indra.
He looped the bag's handles down his arm, opening it enough to reach in and procure one of the cans. The large, flashy green 'b' on the can looked absolutely radioactive, so that certainly made Indra feel confident in his purchase. Unfortunately, he was long past coming up with successful alternatives to keeping alert through the night. This was just how it had to be until he could find a way to rest fitfully at his wonder again. He'd had one place- one place of safety, and now-
Irrelevant. He couldn't visit again for a couple weeks, anyway.
Though without his few nights of peace to keep him going, he'd turned to radioactive poison in the interim. Honestly, he should probably just welcome death, at this point. If he did it on his own terms, maybe his starseed could find its way back to the Cauldron before a youma grabbed it instead. That was probably the ideal scenario. He cracked open the can with the sound of snapping metal and an accompanying fizzle and stared down into the dark opening. ...If he was committing to ingesting these on the regular, that really was setting his own terms.
He huffed softly, touched the can to his lips, and tipped it back for as long as he could endure the carbon dioxide sting in his throat. If it were entirely up to him, he would not taste this more than once, despite having selected what he hoped was a 'nice' apple flavor for safety (none of this was safe).
Grumbling, Indra set off from the convenience store parking lot on foot, back down the road and toward the cabin he'd decided to rent for the next two weeks. He'd reasoned it out as best he could, even if it was a dent in savings: the cabin was remote enough that no one would wander up on him without meaning to thereby sparing passerby from sporadic attack, it was more secure than laying out in the grass where any stray enemy senshi could ambush him because she felt like it, and it meant his own home and possessions and livelihood were probably in less danger without his presence. He'd packed relatively sparingly with just a few clothes and toiletries, snacks to last a week or so, and little else. Most hard and fast survival necessities like food and fire and water were perpetually stored in Antisana's subspace pocket in case of dire emergencies. The strange ethereal wisp from the earlier festival was mashed in there in a jar as well. He didn't know what it was, but he didn't trust it to be left unattended.
It wasn't a permanent solution, but it bought him time until he could go to his wonder again and try and devise a plan to cleanse it of the Chaos that had invaded... Somehow.
"Mm?" He dug his free hand in his jacket pocket as his phone blipped, and when he pulled it out, it pleased him an inordinate amount to see Breana printed at the top of the message. One of an extremely limited number Indra had confided much in. And it was only an awareness of how bothersome he could be that kept him from messaging her constantly. He took another, slower sip of his drink as he scanned over the messages.
'You're probably already asleep...'
Oh, she thought she was funny.
Quote: I could be amenable to that.
He typed back. And then because he was on the road walking 'home' for all intents and purposes, with tall trees blocking off most of his view, but wherein he knew what glimmering, starlit surface lay beyond them, Indra decided to add:
Quote: I'm renting a cabin not far off from the reservoir. If you want, you could drop off anything there you might want for the day, and we can picnic later.
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Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2022 10:19 am
Breana felt the phone beside her buzz and for a moment she’d thought a giant bug, or something, had landed on the spot beside her. “Oh crap,” Guilt washed over her when she saw his name flash across the top of her screen before fading back to black into sleep mode. I did wake him up… Considering Indra’s prompt response, she felt confident that he wasn’t on patrol or powered up this evening; otherwise, he wouldn’t have received the message until later. On one hand that could be seen as a good sign. Alluded to the possibility that he wasn’t in danger and that youma were not out harassing him this evening. She could only imagine how exhausted he was or how much of a light sleeper he’d become. That last thought brought upon another wave of guilt. However, with a swipe of her finger, she unlocked the screen and scanned the text. She scanned the text and smiled. Between his articulate reply and lack of autocorrect errors, Bri felt confident that he had already been awake. Rather than dwelling on the worry, she kept the conversation more positive instead of fretting. Quote: I’d enjoy that. It’s been forever since I’ve had an actual picnic. If you’d like, can bring some things to make sandwiches. Not just peanut butter and jelly. But deli lunch meat, one of those organic lettuce heads that still has the roots and could be repotted and grown again, sliced pickles and condiments. Maybe some chips or a pie even- but that might be a bit too cliche to bring. Quote: Unless you’d prefer something more snack-ish. I could pick up some Ritz crackers, cheese, and some salami. Lunchables- but for adults. Quote: Pick your poison and I’ll pick it up in the morning. wink
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Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2022 7:45 am
He kept his phone in hand as he walked, rather than pocket it. It was late enough that Indra didn't expect Breana to be awake for much longer, but if she was looking for someone to talk to, he had no qualms being that person. Ever. It wasn't like he was going to bed anytime soon, after downing most of this toxic-green energy drink. He gave the can a little slosh, gauging how much was left, before tipping the rest down his throat and stashing the empty can along with the rest of the drinks in the plastic bag from the convenience store.
Quote: I have a few things here.
He replied. He'd been keeping to pretty quick meals, lately. Things he could throw together in a hurry without having to cook much. Which seemed the basic premise of most picnic foods, anyway. Though there was that whole... uncertainty that he usually felt when participating in any food-related functions: that she wouldn't really be interested in any of his vegetarian-or-high-protein foods.
Quote: I've got ranch and hummus dips and carrots I can bring along. It would be great if you could pick up some celery, though.
And she'd probably want chips for dips, like most people.
Quote: Whatever kind of chips and crackers you'd like. Quote: I can make pide or caprese sandwiches. I have everything for that. And grilled corn. There's one of those little grills like they have at parks behind the cabin. I feel confident it is fine enough to use. Quote: Oh, but I would need charcoal and lighter fluid, if you wanted that. Quote: If you want salami or sandwich meat, you'll have to bring that, as well. I am vegetarian, so I don't keep meats on hand, but I am not so up my own a** that it would offend me if you wanted to bring it for yourself, so please feel free.
It was probably unfair of him to think that Breana wouldn't do whatever she found most comfortable for herself, but Indra was familiar with that stigma of being a vegetarian: that because some vegetarians felt compelled to ridicule anyone who enjoyed a different diet than they did, now there was that fear that all of them would baulk at anyone who dared to consume animal products in front of them. He really didn't think she would be bothered one way or the other, probably. Just like he cared absolutely nothing about what anyone else put in their bodies. But no reason not to reassure her, just the same...
A fluttering breeze made the trees rustle all around him, and the shadows flickered beneath the moonlight. Indra had to give pause in his walk. Rationally, he could tell the difference between a breeze and something moving, but he still had to stop, and wait, and listen, and watch... Like he was prey and every stray shadow was something out to get him.
He hurried along in the next moment, pace picking up ever-so-slightly.
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 6:05 pm
Indra had been so candid in his last comment with regards to not being so up his own a** to be offended that Breanna couldn’t help but laugh. By no means was it a mocking sound, but she got the distinct feeling he’d been on the receiving end of a few tasteless comments from meat lovers, like her, to feel the need to address it now rather than down the road. Quote: No, it’s ok. Caprese sandwiches sound really good actually. A statement emphasized by her own growling stomach that had been fed already not more than two hours ago. Thank god he wasn’t here to hear it. Loud and demanding gurgling sound- so unladylike. Quote: I’ll stop by the store and pick up some celery, crackers, charcoal, and lighter fluid. Do you have a preference between berries or melons? Something sweet but not heavy on the sugar would serve as a nice dessert. She could get a small watermelon to split or maybe strawberries- Bri thought about it for a moment, then posed another quick question. Quote: Or… since they have a grill, I can make grilled pineapple if that sounds good to you?
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 6:42 am
Quote: No preference. I enjoy both. Some whipped cream might go nice with berries, but pineapple sounds wonderful too.
Indra almost never grilled. Setting up a grill was a lot of work to go through to prepare dinner for one person. And such cooking methods were typically more favored by carnivores for their smoky, meaty flavors. But if he was going to set it up for corn, anyway, it would just be practical to make use of it for more than one dish. They should make it worth the effort of having Breana lug a bag of charcoal out here.
There was just something unreasonably tempting about whipped cream and berries, though. It was so easy to imagine spending a warm morning out in the sunshine near the water, and then retreating to the privacy of Indra's rented cabin to enjoy lunch, lounge in the shade of the trees in their bathing suits, with something sweet on his tongue...
Quote: Whichever you prefer, I would be more than happy with.
Quote: Besides food, you should be able to pack lightly. I have beach chairs and float noodles, towels, an umbrella, and even a cooler. The cabin came with everything you might expect to need for a day at the beach, really.
Indra had come less prepared for such things, having expected to spend most of his rental period using the cabin to hide, but it had been... so quiet the past few days... It was still quiet now, even while he was looking for excuses to claim otherwise. The reservoir still seemed more dangerous than just being in the woods (he'd be completely doomed if something popped out of the water, and he didn't want to risk Breana with that, either). But they could stay in the shallows, and there were two of them to keep a lookout.
He shouldn't want to take these sorts of risks if it wasn't completely necessary, but it did feel ever more necessary to find a few minutes to just- do something enjoyable.
Quote: I'm looking forward to it.
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 9:45 am
Quote: I’m looking forward to it too. smile I’ll send you a text when I’m on my way to the store in case you think of anything else you’d like me to grab. Aside from a bathing suit, a towel, and maybe some basic toiletries, she wasn’t sure what else she should bring with her since it sounded like he had everything else covered. Quote: I’ll aim to be up there by about 10. Noon would probably be better but- the notion of spending time with him, not as powered while fighting youma, but as they were without uniforms and magic. It made her heart kinda flutter. Bri knew full well there was still a danger with that but if she took a few minutes to power up and do a quick patrol of the area then that should give them time to just relax for a while. It might also put his mind at ease since her ability to sense youma reached a further range than his would alone. Quote: I hope you’re able to get some sleep soon. Message me in the morning if you’d like me there earlier.
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 1:11 pm
Ten.
A bit earlier than Indra might have expected, but he had hoped for the morning with Breana, so it actually worked out quite well, as far as he was concerned. He felt confident that he would be plenty awake regardless of how early she wanted to arrive, likely with time to spare to find and gather all the various beach equipment. No complaints from him in that regard.
Quote: No reason to worry yourself. I will try and settle soon.
It was only a little of a lie.
He had just downed this entire can of energy drink, with more stashed in the plastic grocery bag dangling off his arm in case he needed a pick-me-up to keep going. It wasn't like Indra was planning to settle down for sleep, or anything. Not with how little he could afford to be caught off guard. But he wasn't lying in the sense that he was doing nightly preparations. A quick scout as Antisana just to make sure nothing was immediately nearby, and prepping the cabin for potential invasion.
Because he never knew when or even exactly what would find him, and he had to be prepared as best he could. For now, he typed out a last message before powering up:
Quote: Have a good night, Breana. I'll see you tomorrow.
His civilian phone went with the rest of his garb to whatever subspace it disappeared to when he powered up. The drinks remained. He'd probably never understood how it was determined what stayed and what went, but it suited him fine, he supposed. He was close enough to the cabin that Antisana could jog the rest of the way without issue and patrol the perimeter for anything of interest. It had been long enough that he expected something of interest.
But there wasn't, and he didn't understand why that was...
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