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 Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2023 12:54 pm
Lysithea had been anxious ever since getting the text from Dering asking her to meet him and some friends in a park. Something had happened to Stirling and they wanted to talk to her about it.
There was a sick, twisting lump in her stomach and not for the first time she wished that she had this damn cast off. She had a real sling in subspace now and that made things a bit easier when she was powered, but it hurt like hell when she moved it still, and though she knew she had only a few weeks left…
It was simply the worst.
The group of young Knights was waiting for her just like Dering had said, and while she had expected a group...she hadn’t expected such a large one, and after doing a quick headcount she sighed and shifted to her princess form, reaching out and taking hold of Dering’s wrist. “Do me a favor and make sure everyone is holding on to one another, I’m going to take us up to Lysithea where we can talk in safety, there are too many of us gathered right now.”
And now that she had shifted…she was just oozing power, and that wasn’t how she liked things to go. Oozing only brought trouble.
When Dering had everyone in hand, Lysithea pressed the button on her Senshi phone which rested in her sling and they all vanished into the night, reappearing on Lysithea.
“...Okay, so we have Dering, the two cute Moon Knights–I’m happy to see that you two are Knights now, good work, and the other three…I’m not sure who you are but…what’s going on with Stirling?”
She tried to keep her voice neutral but the worry was creeping in and her eyes flickered from face to face.
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Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2023 9:29 pm
Reims wasn’t sure what to expect. The way Stirling and Dering spoke about Lysithea, he thought she would be, well… older. Not someone who was maybe about ten or so years their senior.
He followed along, glancing over at the others around him. Yvoire seeming to join them because he didn’t want to be alone -- Reims could relate to that. Stirling -- or Brooklyn -- was Cynthus’s friend. And a friend of the others as well.
While he didn’t know what Yvoire’s deal was yet, he wanted to help Stirling and maybe figure the rest out along the way.
The dark haired woman grew wings. The same energy felt when they were all at the bank. Vaguely he wondered how many people were like that. Just to be sure he wasn't overreacting, he did his best to keep his expression even.
Although his eyes narrowed a little on the way she grabbed hold of Dering. There was a flare of protectiveness that he did his best to rein in for now. Reims knew he was probably being ridiculous because Dering obviously knew Lysithea. He would just have to keep an eye on Dering to make sure he wasn't being bothered.
Since Stirling wasn’t his close friend, he kept his mouth shut when asked what was going on with her. Instead, he took the moment to glance around at the strange world around him. Ephesus wished he could smile when Lysithea voiced her happiness to see him and Amarynthos as Knights. He remembered her from Alastor, but they hadn’t really crossed paths since then. Although he overheard Michael and Devyn talking about things happening with the Negaverse and a youma that needed to be purified…
He was glad to see she grew in power as well. Maybe it would be what they needed to help Stirling.
The smile he did manage kind of wobbled and fell. He was holding tightly to Amarynthos’s hand already when they joined together to go to Lysithea, and when they all let go, he still remained with his hand in Amarynthos’s. He was pretty sure if he let go he would start crying again.
“A General took her starseed,” he managed to say when asked. He wasn’t sure if his voice was loud enough to be heard. He glanced up at Amarynthos for help. Maybe he could say it loud enough so Lysithea knew what was going on.
He wished he could have taken the time to really enjoy being on a new, beautiful world to him. But he was too saddened by the events that took place to really appreciate it.
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Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2023 10:51 pm
For the first time in a while, Dering was comfortable because he knew what was going on. He knew how Lysithea’s energy would feel, he knew about her wings, he knew what being whisked off to space felt like, he knew what her world looked like.
What he didn’t know was how Lysithea was going to respond when she found out what was going on with Stirling. He’d tried to flash a smile, but his mouth felt dry and stuffed full with cotton balls.
He fumbled with words and might not have been able to answer at all had Ephesus not opened the door. Even if it had been quiet, it was a starting point.
Amarynthos said nothing at first which wasn’t uncommon when others were talking. He could speak for the group just as well as he could listen when they spoke, and for right now he wanted to give Dering and Ephesus a chance. He kept an arm around the other Moon Knight but couldn’t help that he was curious about the Princess’ world.
It felt like stepping into a fairy tale, and if times had been better he’d have wanted to explore here, too.
He stroked Ephesus’ hand while he listened to the other boy speaking, and he hoped the little gesture was enough to give him a bit of strength. None of this was easy.
He’d heard him well enough, but he was standing right next to him.
Dering was looking like he was struggling to find the words.
Amarynthos waited, but only for a few more seconds, and then looked up at Lysithea and repeated, “A General took her starseed. We were all there, the Negaverse had infiltrated a bank, and then they attacked us. Everything was on fire and we were trying to get out. She was on her way out and he blocked the path. She’s in the hospital right now and she’s stable but we’re trying to find him so we can get her starseed back. We have a few leads but we need help. Effie’s drawn a picture of him, and we know the Corrupted Senshi he was with is named Mizuki.”
He did his best not to sound too worried, and he could see the way Dering’s shoulders relaxed.
Truthfully, Dering was afraid Lysithea would be mad at him. She had the basic information now, but Dering suddenly found that he couldn’t raise his eyes to meet hers anymore.
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Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 7:44 am
Cynthus didn’t know what a Princess was, not when it came to Senshi. She didn’t know what they looked like, or what they felt like, or what they were capable of. It wasn’t until Lysithea shifted forms that Cynthus realized, oh, a Princess was like that one really big, really powerful energy signature they’d felt flare up at the bank.
Well, two. There’d been that gross, evil one. Did the Negaverse have Princesses too?
Leaving Earth was still a new experience for Cynthus. She itched to explore. She was sure a Princess’s homeworld had to be a thousand times better than her sad little Wonder on the Moon.
Now wasn’t the time, though. They had to save Stirling—Brooklyn. Cynthus wasn’t going to give up on her only friend.
(Did these people count as her friends now? Cynthus didn’t want to get too far ahead of herself, but they’d be working together and hanging out, trying to find whoever took Stirling’s starseed. Although, maybe it couldn’t really be considered hanging out when the situation that gathered them together was so dire.)
“He was a huge wimp,” Cynthus added. “Unless that was just an act. But the Mizuki person was just as bad, honestly. Like, she acted like Stirling’s starseed was hers. I don’t know what Stirling got up to that’s making people fight over her starseed, but she’s still alive, so that means they haven’t destroyed it yet, right?”Yvoire didn’t know what to do with himself. He felt out of place—sticking out like a sore thumb, maybe. Amarynthos seemed so certain, so hopeful still. Cynthus seemed bold and determined. Ephesus might be quiet and timid, but he had Amarynthos; Yvoire might not know the extent of their relationship, but he assumed they must be close. Even Dering, who’d seemed so lost without Stirling, had Lysithea now. Reims was stubborn, unwavering, even when he had nothing to say.
Yvoire shifted on his feet, gaze darting to and fro. It was easier to focus on their surroundings than it was to consider how they might proceed. Thus far, he’d only been to Ganymede once—to his Wonder, battered and broken as it was—then beyond the boundaries of it with Ganymede, to see how the world was thriving elsewhere.
He wanted to be excited for it—for something, for anything—but all he felt was uncertainty.
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Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 2:50 pm
Lysithea forced her emotions to the back of her mind. The back of her throat. The back of her chest, and after a moment, she glanced at Dering and put an arm around him, drawing him closer to her side. This wasn’t his fault. This was nobody’s fault but the General who took Stirling’s starseed and…
Oh she honestly wished that Michel could find the General and make sure that he got the punishment he deserved for doing this. This.
Was despicable. She was just a kid...all…of these Knights were just children…
Her grip on Dering tightened slightly and Lysithea closed her eyes for a moment, drawing in a breath and trying to sort out her feelings into something that made sense.
The name Mizuki caught her attention and she looked between Cynthus and Amarynthos sharply. “Mizuki? Kind of flowery with purple pigtails?”
The same Mizuki who had tried so hard to help with Faustite…
Lysithea drew in a breath and nodded. “If that’s her, I’ve met her before, Effie, can I see your drawing? I…still have my memories of being with the Negaverse, maybe I’ll know him…”
It would be quite convenient at least.
Letting the air escape slowly, trying to calm her now rapid heartbeat, Lysithea looked between all of them. “I’m…going to guess that you’re going to be helping with this? I need you to know that I appreciate it very much, but I would like you to promise me that you won’t go doing things alone. If he’s stealing starseeds…try to go in groups of two at least. That way if something happens, the other can run for help. I don’t want to lose more people to this…” Her lips twitched at Cynthus’ assertion that he was a wimp but. “Crazy soul stealing wimp…but, I appreciate your help. The more eyes and hands we have out, the better chance we have at saving her. Where is she now? Do we know which hospital?”
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Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 6:01 pm
Reims bristled but kept his mouth shut. For now.
They were the ones who were reaching out to others to get information, to try and get Stirling her starseed back. Being treated as though they were children, as though they didn’t know how to stick together in a group, to go out in numbers rather than by themselves.
Despite what others thought of them, they were not children. Young. Inexperienced, sure. But if they were expected to try and literally survive any given day at school, he thought they deserved a little more credit than what they got.
He stood a little taller, arms crossed over his chest as he listened to Cynthus and Amarynthos. He didn’t look at Ephesus, because he looked like he was about to cry and Reims really didn’t know what to do about tears.
Dering was being held by Lysithea, and he waited just long enough to make sure he didn’t have to step in to afford Dering space for himself, before casually turning to the side so he could glance over at Yvoire, who was as glum as before, but for reasons unknown. Stirling’s situation, sure. But there was something else.
Which was why when he caught Yvoire’s eye, he offered him a very small, hopefully reassuring smile. Ephesus sniffled a little as he carefully pulled the sketch he did out of subspace. He knew he wasn’t the best artist, but he tried his hardest, and the others said it looked like the General.
“My dads took her, but they didn’t say what hospital. I can ask when I see them and let you know. Or Dering and he can get in touch with you,” he offered weakly. He knew that his dads didn’t include too much information for safety concerns. They wouldn’t want too much information to be out in the open, even if messages were just being sent to himself and Amarynthos. But he didn’t know how to allot the energy he had left to speak to words that would explain what he meant.
Shakily, he handed the sketch over, allowing himself to take a breath before saying more.
“They knew we would be contacting you, so they’re getting in touch with others,” he thought he managed to say out loud, but he wasn’t certain.
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Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 7:27 pm
Dering wondered if he looked so obviously guilty that Lysithea had gone out of her way to embrace and reassure him. At least a few of the others had known Stirling for longer than he did, and he wanted to apologize for being the one to receive any comfort. If anyone deserved a hug or extra care, it was probably Yvoire. They might not have talked much, but Dering was a decently astute person, and he was usually quick to get a read on someone.
Yvoire’s silence was the source of much curiosity and worry, and if he’d known how the boy would receive conversation or contact, he might have offered to talk about whatever was on his mind, or even hugged him. Dering himself was often prone to keeping to his own little space but he never drew away from someone and always seemed to try and do whatever he could to make them comfortable.
Now, he couldn’t imagine being comfortable in any situation. He was nervous and worried enough about Stirling that his stomach was churning, and his skin felt so prickly that it practically hurt.
“We’re careful,” he insisted, in a quiet voice. He didn’t want it to sound like he was arguing with Lysithea–he wasn’t! He just wanted to reassure her that they were being safe. He wasn’t planning on going out alone right now–especially not when the plan was to confront Negaverse officers and demand answers or help from them.
Even if he hadn’t been with the others for much time, he got the distinct impression that most of them had the same general idea–don’t go out alone. Don’t go out without someone watching your back.
He had to draw in a breath and force himself to speak again. “But that–it sounds like the Mizuki we saw. But I don’t know how Stirling knows her, either.” Maybe she told Lysithea, they were close. He hoped that meant she could contact her or get some help.
Amarynthos again squeezed Ephesus’ hand and rubbed his thumb across the back of it to try and reassure him without drawing too much attention to it.
“We haven’t been to see her yet, but we’re going to go soon. I think we were hoping we’d have her starseed by now. But I know it’s early. I might be getting ahead of myself. You’re a Princess, you have a lot of power and experience, right? Is there some way for you to call a starseed back or something? Or is it just going to float around or sit in his pocket until we find it? Like–what do they do when they’re out of someone’s body?”
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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 7:50 am
Cynthus was nothing if not a teenager. Maybe she should’ve expected a Princess to be a little bossy—with instructions if not in tone—but she’d assumed, perhaps arrogantly, perhaps recklessly, that their age and the presence of two Knights would count for something, that they could be treated as equals. It wasn’t like Lysithea was that much older. Probably not even old enough to be their mom. So that made her, what? A younger Millennial? A Zillennial, maybe?
Ugh, whatever. She probably only meant it in an encouraging way. Cynthus was just… defensive. And maybe not the most receptive to female authority figures, given how much a b***h her mom was.
Okay, okay, whatever, that wasn’t important right now.
Still, Cynthus rolled her eyes. They’d be careful. Mostly. They weren’t going to wimp out. Reims and Yvoire and Dering might not’ve had much of a choice in what they were, but the Code chose her (Amarynthos and Ephesus, too, she assumed) for a reason.
When she could trust herself not to have an attitude, Cynthus said, “If she could call it back, wouldn’t Sessrumnir and Alastor’ve had that other Princess do it right when it happened?”
They’d seemed pretty convinced that whoever that other Princess was wouldn’t be able to help, and they were both definitely old enough to be their dads (and were Ephesus’ dads, right?), so they should be pretty knowledgeable. Maybe. Cynthus was of the opinion that getting old blinded people to certain options because they got too cautious with age.
Ugh. She just wanted to save Brooklyn.Yvoire caught Reims’ smile but didn’t return it.
He didn’t know what to say, or what to think, or how to feel. He wanted to try, wanted to help, wanted to know what was possible, but he dreaded it, too, because he knew success would bring a combination of relief and disappointment. And failure… Well, that would probably make the guilt worse. He’d wonder if he could’ve done more, if speaking up might have helped, if he might know something that could help Stirling without realizing it.
He didn’t. Yvoire knew he didn’t, but the what ifs always lingered in his thoughts. If Lysithea or Ganymede or that Princess from the bank didn’t have an easy solution, nothing Yvoire had to offer would make a difference—not any more than any of the others.
Yvoire averted his eyes, then ducked his head. He was aware that the others were curious, that he attracted attention with his sadness and silence as much as he would have if he joined the others in speaking up. This wasn’t about him. A part of him was ashamed that it might seem like he thought it was, but pulling himself out of it was next to impossible. He couldn’t smile. He couldn’t say anything. He couldn’t find any hope left inside. All he could do was stand there and help in whatever way the others asked of him.
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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 11:58 am
Lysithea took the sketch and studied it for a few moments before shaking her head and sighing. “I can’t say that I remember him, but.” She took a photo of the art with her Senshi phone and ran a hand through her hair. “I’ll send it to the contacts that I have to see if they might know too…”
Handing the paper back to Effie, Lysiteha shook her head at Mary’s question. “I wish. That would make things so much more simple…but I don’t even think Cosmos has power like that.” She wasn’t smug about it, not outwardly, but…for once it would have been convenient to rely on Cosmos for something like that. Assuming she’d show up.
At Dering’s protest that they were careful, and the sullen looks on everyone else, Lysithea shook her head. “I only said it because I don’t know all of you. If Stirling was here I know she’d be running out on her own, and I didn’t know if some of you might be like that, that’s all. She’s stubborn and I suppose I figured that any friends of hers would be stubborn too. I’m glad that you’re careful, and I’m excited to get to know all of you in better circumstances. We’ll get her starseed back. I’ll see if I can’t get ahold of Mizuki somehow and I’ll try to get you information on the wimpy General too if I can.”
Her eyes lingered on each face for a moment and then Lysithea drew in a breath and nodded. “Thank you for letting me know. She’s important to me. And it’s really nice to see that she has so many friends that care about her…thank you. And if you need me, feel free to write or reach me through Dering, if you want to reach me yourselves he’ll have my number.”
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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 6:12 pm
“Probably better that they don’t float around,” Reims finally commented, although he was looking at Dering more than Lysithea. She reminded him a little of his mother, but that wasn’t fair to Lysithea when he didn’t know her very well. She was hopefully nothing like his mother.
“Seems like that would just make starseeds a bigger target to destroy, if they’re floating around, I mean.” People could be selfish like that. He didn’t personally know anyone in the Negaverse, but based on his current experience, they all seemed rather self-serving.
He tried not to be visibly disappointed that Lysithea didn’t recognize the General. That was fine. They would just have to do their own research.
He had other questions. Like who Cosmos was, or if it was an entity like the Code. But now wasn’t the time. Maybe Amarynthos and Ephesus would know.
“We should get to work,” he decided, looking from Cynthus to Dering and then the others. “Can’t just wait around hoping someone will know something.” But if they didn’t want to search with him, that was fine. He would look himself if he had to. Ephesus carefully took the paper back and tucked it away in his subspace. He still wasn’t sure what to think about Reims, but he didn’t want to let Stirling waste away because they were sitting around.
He wanted to find the General and get Stirling’s starseed back. It wasn’t fair that something like that happened, and he knew he couldn’t let himself get so upset that he was useless. He and Amarynthos were Knights, so they had to make sure the others were safe while they went out.
“Thank you. Your world is beautiful,” he attempted to show Lysithea a wobbly smile, but in the end gave up. Maybe one day they could all, Stirling included, come back to explore.
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Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2023 1:38 am
Amarynthos released a heavy sigh because, maybe in his heart, he knew things wouldn’t be so easy. It wouldn’t stop him from hoping for the best. Just because they couldn’t find a shortcut didn’t mean that he wasn’t willing to put in the leg work to do whatever it took to make sure Stirling was fine after this.
Losing a starseed had a decent enough affect on Ephesus and he’d only lost his for a moment. He didn’t know what losing a starseed for this long was going to do.
He nodded with what the others had said, but it occurred to him that for all the starseeds taken in the city, he’d never seen one outside of the one time it had happened in front of him.
But, Lysithea was going to try and reach her contacts. She wasn’t just one person–it was her, and everyone she knew. And, she cared about Stirling–a lot. He knew she meant it when she said she was going to reach out.
“Thank you, Lysithea. We’ll let you know if we figure anything else out. But–yeah, I’m not ready to turn in just yet. I want to head back to Destiny City and see if there's anything else we can do tonight.” He would have made an excuse to head back home–even if just for a bit–if Ephesus was ready to turn in. He knew it had been a long night already. He could push himself further but he didn’t want to force anyone else to.
Dering’s shoulders slumped a bit when she didn’t recognize the General, but he knew it was a long shot, anyway. If she had any clues about Mizuki, though…
It was worth a shot. Lysithea wasn’t giving up hope yet and Dering wasn’t going to, either. He might not have felt like there was much that he could do, and even if he was afraid of just getting in the way, he wanted to help–however he could.
He offered a soft word of thanks to Lysithea, but he was struggling to raise his voice to an audible level. He just wasn’t sure what he could say, and he was afraid of saying the wrong thing or making her worry. He didn’t want her to tell him to go home and not do anything dangerous so he didn’t voice that he was ready to get back to work, but he briefly caught Reims’ eye and nodded slightly.
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Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2023 10:51 am
Cynthus wasn’t the least bit tired. If they dispersed and went home now, she’d just spend the night lying in bed, awake, thinking about Brooklyn in the hospital. It was better to do something, even if that something was wandering around Destiny City looking for anyone who might know something.
They were going to do this. They were going to save Stirling. Cynthus wasn’t going to lose her first friend. She had to show Brooklyn she was a knight, too!Yvoire kept quiet. His was a useless presence, he knew. The others had a plan. They were confident in that plan. Yvoire could almost believe they’d succeed through sheer force of will, with or without him. A part of him even wanted to offer reassurance, to apologize, to do or say something to show that he was alert, that they could depend on him for help, that he wasn’t just some gloomy ghost of a person following after them listlessly.
Eyes still averted, he nodded to agree with the others, to join them in thanks, to show that, though he couldn’t find the words, he was paying attention.
He couldn’t turn away, even if a part of him ached to.
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