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 Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2023 8:12 pm
Dering had spent nearly every night he could out looking for some sign of Stirling’s starseed, or any of the Negaverse agents who had been there when it was taken. Most nights, he was with someone. Tonight, he was alone–mostly because he had planned on staying inside tonight. It had been raining, but he couldn’t sleep. He kept thinking about her, unconscious, withering away in the hospital.
There was a break in the rain, and he sucked it up and slipped out of the window.
He’d gotten in trouble more times in the last week and a half than he had in the last year, and he had never snuck out–not like this.
The air was humid and smelled of rain, but there wasn’t any lightning.
There was a slight breeze and he hoped that meant it would clear up soon.
At first, he wasn’t even powered up. He didn’t even know what he was doing. Looking! But he didn’t want to draw attention to himself and with an energy signature, there was a target on his back. Especially if he was alone. He couldn’t fight, he knew that. And Stirling wasn’t here to teach him.
It turned out for the best, though.
He saw the General. Not just a General, the General.
His heart stopped. At first, he thought he was imagining it. He forgot how to breath but he blinked a few times and then rubbed at his eyes and he was still there.
In a panic, Dering powered up.
It felt like a General.
He couldn’t get his legs to move. He tried to call to him, but his voice had shriveled into a raspy whisper.
What if he left? What if he just disappeared? What if the General–what if Stirling’s starseed was there, within reach, and he let it slip through his fingers?
“H-Hey!” he called, and was ashamed that his voice broke. He raised a hand to wave, as if he was trying to signal that he meant no harm. His legs felt leaden but he tried to approach him–nearly tripped over himself, and hurried to catch himself. “I–Can we talk?”
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 6:28 am
Swinging was so easy. Being on the swing set made Gismondine feel like he was a child again, and honestly, that was something he wished he could feel more often.
His eyes were closed as he moved slowly through the air, though he frowned when he felt the sudden flare of a Page in his vicinity, and when he heard a voice, the General opened his eyes, scowling slightly. When he saw the Page, his heart seemed to stop…it was the one who had been with the girl he had killed.
All of the blood drained from Gismondine’s face and he slowly came to a stop, his feet dragging the ground as his momentum slowed. “...What. What do you want?”
To chastise him? Fine. He deserved it. To tell him the girl was dead? Well, Gismondine expected that.
To punish him?
…Yeah fine. He deserved that too.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 8:45 am
Dering’s words felt fake, like maybe he was only imagining them. His mouth felt like cotton and he nearly choked to get a response out.
“Her starseed.” He was ready to beg. He felt like crying already.
“Do you still have it? Please. We’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
Was it pathetic? Maybe. It was honest, at the very least. He was terrified of messing this up. Anyone else could have a better chance of talking to him and knowing what to say.
All Dering could think about was how Brooklyn looked in the hospital bed. He wanted he to open her eyes again.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 8:46 am
Gismondine thought he might just pass out, but he stared in some confusion at the Page, his eyebrows pulling together. “...You…but she’s dead...isn’t she? Isn’t she dead? I killed her…I really…I really didn’t mean to…”
The words escaped him before he could really think about it and he took a step towards the younger boy, hesitating. “There was just so much going on–too much going on…there was a bear and a tiger and that other…I didn’t…I just wanted to make sure I could get away and I…I really didn’t mean to. I swear it…”
He didn’t reach for the starseed…there was no point in giving it back…the girl was dead. Gone.
And it was all his fault. “I’m…I’m so sorry.”
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 8:48 am
“No,” Dering answered quickly, and for the first time didn’t stumble over his words when he spoke. He continued to approach, cautious but hopeful.
Desperate, really.
He was terrified, trembling. The General seemed like he was genuine, but Dering had seen him pull Stirling’s starseed out like it was nothing, and she was stronger than him. He could have done the same to Dering, too, so all he could do was hope that he was sincere.
“She’s not dead. But she will be if she doesn’t get her starseed back. She’s safe, for right now, but everyone’s so worried about her. We don’t know how long she has left. Please.”
He didn’t know what he had to offer to get it back, he didn’t know what he could do or so he just needed her starseed. Needed her to be okay.
“If you’re sorry, please give it back."
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 8:50 am
Gismondine flinched at the word, but a small bubble of hope started up in his chest. “...No she’s…not dead?”
He hadn’t…hadn’t killed her then…if she was alive…then he had nothing to fear…nothing to worry about…if she was alive...
Swallowing, he slowly withdrew the still shining gem from subspace and held it out to the young boy. “...Who are you, anyway? Who is she? I never even…I never got to know her name…I mean…”
Not that he had expected to but..
“I would like to know your names…just. So I can be sure that she’s not dead. I…you…” He drew in a breath, trying to keep himself steady, but there were tears now, starting to make their way slowly down his cheeks. “I don’t know how she could have survived...”
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 8:50 am
Her starseed was there. Within his grasp. So easily reachable it.
It didn’t seem real.
His hand was shaking when he held his hand out to accept it, and when the gem guided into his hand, he drew it close to his chest and held it protectively.
“My name is Dering.” It was almost a whisper, because he was still afraid of giving this Negaverse agent too much. This could still be a trap. His heart was pounding so quickly that it nearly drowned out the sound of his voice. “She’s Stirling.”
The General was crying. Dering didn’t know what to make of that. It made him want to comfort him, but the practical part of him said to just keep his distance. This guy was still dangerous, even if he was returning the starseed he’d taken. Accidentally.
“She survived because she has people who care about her. And she’s strong. And we look after each other. I know–Knights can send messages. If they know someone’s name. I can’t, I haven’t figured out how to yet. But–if you let me know your name, I can make sure you get an update about her.”
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 8:51 am
When the starseed was in the hands of the Page, Gismondine felt a weight lift off of his chest and he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, nodding slowly. “Gismondine…I…would really appreciate any updates…I…I’ve been…I…I really, truly didn’t want…I’m not a murderer...I would….”
He swallowed and took a step backwards, shaking his head slowly. “I wouldn’t…have done it…If I would have thought…I…I’m sorry...Dering…could you just…let her know that? Please?”
Honestly, Gismondine had absolutely no hope of ever hearing from this boy again…or the Squire…Stirling...
He truly hoped that she was honestly still alive…
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 8:52 am
Gismondine. He could remember that. That was easy. Was this all a dream?
He held Stirling’s starseed carefully, like it was the most delicate, precious treasure in all the world. Right now, it felt like it was. His hands felt sweaty, he was already afraid he might drop it but he was too nervous to put it in subspace. What if it disappeared before he could return it to her?
“I’ll tell her,” he promised. “I’ll let you know that she’s okay. But you–we should talk sometime. After all of this. I would right now but I need to get this back to her. I–do you mind if I go? I’ll update you soon, I just. She’s been waiting for this for a long time. I don’t want to mess this up. She’s my friend. I just need her to be okay.”
Something just didn’t sit right about this General, but it wasn’t even that he seemed evil, it was just–well, he seemed the exact opposite of it.
He couldn’t figure out how a guy like that wound up in the Negaverse.
…He just needed to take care of Stirling first, before he started worrying about anyone else.
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 8:53 am
Nodding slowly, Gismondine blew out a breath and nodded once again, unable to find his voice again. What else was there to say? She wasn’t dead…this…Dering was going to see that she lived…and that was that. The story was over, the chapter closed and…
With another nod and an attempt at a smile that failed miserably, Gismondine vanished into the night, unable to deal with any of this for any longer.
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