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 Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2023 8:22 pm
Gismondine had been patrolling aimlessly, spending time just staring at the starseed he had taken the night before. He hated it. He wanted to throw it somewhere…or to just find someone to give it back to.
The guilt was overwhelming and finally…when it became far too much, he teleported himself back into Jace’s office as he had once before.
It wasn’t…wise to keep involving Jace in things that he didn’t need to be involved in…but.
He was a lawyer…he could at least…
Say how bad the murder of someone was…what he could expect from it.
Hell. Maybe he’d have some advice too.
Entering the office, Gismondine made his way over to Jace, relieved that he was here and not home…that would have been awful if he hadn’t been her but.
Swiftly, tears filled the General’s eyes and he flung himself at the lawyer, bursting into tears. “...How bad is it…if I’ve killed someone? It was an accident but…how badly will it end for me?”
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Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2023 10:58 am
This was not the first time a stranger–this stranger–had welcomed himself into Jace’s office uninvited, and he was startled as much this time as he was the last.
Being sleep deprived and stressed and exhausted did not help and he bristled when the Negaverse officer threw himself towards Jace. He reached out his arms, half to intercept and block and attack, and half because he already knew this guy was just–well, clingy.
The tears didn’t make him seem very intimidating.
“I mean–I–what do you mean killed?”
Obviously killing was bad! …But how could this guy kill anything? He didn’t even seem like he could kill a bug.
…And why was he here? Who was he?
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Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2023 7:54 pm
Gismondine wiped his eyes again and swallowed. “It was an accident...there was this huge…huge thing last night…and I went to try to help! I honestly just wanted to help but…there were so many people and so much fire and I just. Panicked. There was a Squire there…ah…oh…um. Another…another m-magical person but…the wrong kind and…I just…I was only trying to make her friends leave me alone and there was a bear and a tiger and one of my own…”
He swallowed and drew in a breath, his teeth beginning to chatter from the building stress. “Was threatening me…and…I just…I panicked…”
Slowly, he removed the starseed from subspace and held it for Jace to see. “...I…I killed her….”
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Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2023 11:02 pm
Jace didn’t even know how to piece things together. His mind was racing because this guy had killed someone, and–
There was a starseed in front of him.
He held someone’s life–their soul–in his hand.
“You–you have to understand that I’m just a lawyer, this isn’t–most of this doesn’t make sense to me.” He was a convincing liar. He needed to get back in a calm, reasonable mind frame. He couldn't afford to stutter or clam up. He sucked in a breath and steeled himself.
He didn’t will away all of his emotions, but he tried to force calm on himself.
He needed to be smart about this.
“You don’t know that she’s dead. Maybe there’s still time to get it back to her.” Jace sounded convincing, even if he knew he was taking a shot in the dark. He didn’t want to think some girl was dead, and something about this guy crying so much about it made him hope that he wasn’t just creating false hope.
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 1:23 pm
“I don’t know who she was...I have no way to find her…if I could give it back, I would. I would apologize and just…I never wanted this…”
Gismondine swallowed and rubbed at his eyes, carefully tucking the starseed away again.
It was still softly glowing so…maybe that meant Jace had some kind of the right idea…but.
“I think it’s hopeless…” After a moment, he rested his head against Jace’s chest, closing his eyes and just allowing himself a moment to…exist. He knew that Jace was uncomfortable, and…who wouldn’t be? Gismondine was a murderer now…and he was trying to cuddle and just crying.
“...I don’t know why I keep bothering you. I’m sorry that I do.”
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 1:48 pm
Jace’s heart was pounding in his chest and he wondered if the General could hear it. He wasn't panicking, he just wasn’t sure what to make of this. He didn’t know why he was here. He didn’t know why this guy came to him. He was resting against him like they were friends, like they knew each other–and honestly, that idea terrified him, too.
He didn’t know anyone who could be in the Negaverse, right?
…Not that it seemed like they were thriving there.
He swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to force himself to relax.
“No, it’s fine,” he said, though he sounded just slightly strained.
“It’s my job to help people when they have a problem. And I can see why this is something that’s bothering you. But–you can’t give up hope. You have to try. If you can save her, you should. If you didn’t want this, maybe you can still change it, right?”
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 3:26 pm
Jace was unhappy. His heart was pounding and it made Gismondine want to jerk away and possibly go and throw up…but. Then again…
…He was a General now…he could just…bring Jace into things and…he could tell him everything and there wouldn’t have to be secrets…
Swallowing, he drew away slightly and looked at Jace. “...I’ll come back…after…if I can save her…and I’ll…I’m going to give you a choice if you would like to come and join me. I could use someone like you with me. You’re smart and wise and just…nice to have around so…think on it…I…I won’t force you but. I would love to have you as a Lieutenant under me…I…I’m really…I’m not a bad General…I promise…”
He drew himself off of Jace and wiped his eyes once more. “...Just think on it…and if I can save her…I…I’ll be back.”
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 4:48 pm
This guy spoke as if Jace knew what he was offering him, but all Jace could do was play stupid. It would have been too obvious if he’d known what was going on.
Jace didn’t know anything about him. He’d never seen him while he was powered. He hadn’t met anyone new–what, was this a previous client of his? Was that why they knew where his office was? Why he kept coming back here?
“I can tell you’re not a bad person,” Jace said instead. “...But you don’t seem very happy with what you’ve gotten mixed up in. Maybe we can figure something else out for you. But first, you have to do what you can to save her, okay? Don’t give up. I’m sure there’s someone out there who can help you.”
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 6:36 pm
He gave a smile that didn’t reach his eyes at all, it was filled with bitterness, and the laugh that Gismondine forced out wasn’t any kind of a happy one. “I don’t know about that. I’ve killed. I’ve driven away most of the people I love the most.” He shrugged. “Loved the most. But. Maybe. I’ll be back for you….so just…think about it…”
Giving one last nod and regretting it as his head started to pound, Gismondine vanished from the office.
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