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 Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 7:58 pm
Aoede was starting to feel mostly like herself again after spending time recovering in Tom’s lab. A lot of the scarring had faded which made things a little easier on her mentally but she still had felt a lot less sure of her ability to keep doing what she had been doing to get information in the social circles. Tonight though, she had something else to think about. Both Beni and Chal were meeting her tonight to help with the matter of her wonky magic. They each had their own reasons to be concerned for her, especially after what had happened.
Walking down the hallway to her brother’s office, she felt both anxious and a bit angry. She didn’t want to forgive her brother, even if he was doing everything right this time around. At this point, she hated him because it was the only way to deal with him in her own mind. He wasn’t the same person that he used to be and he was weak still in her mind. The clock couldn’t turn back for her, even if she was slowly realizing the things she had been told were just lies from a spiteful mother who lost out on a big chunk of money in a divorce.
Chalcanthite stood in his office, watching the clock and running his hands over a crystal that was on his desk. It was another one he had been looking into for his research on resonance again. He knew today would be very important for a few reasons, two problems would be fixed. The first would be his sister’s magic and the second may be a promotion if Beni figured out the things that needed to be done. He knew that the other had an incident in the past when it came to trying to promote an agent. Part of him worried just the slightest bit about that which is why he also wanted to be here for this. Even if she hated his guts, he still worried about her. Ever since the fire, he had pushed Beni to find out about getting her promoted for that extra boost of strength to help keep her safe.
He looked at Voce, his youma as they rested on the perch he had near his desk. “It will be ok, right?” They preened their feathers around the wisps of crystal before fluffing up and responding in the voice of a long-forgotten officer but with the wrong inflections. Part of him wondered what had happened to that Lieutenant he had sparred with years ago.
“Yes General.”
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Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 8:08 pm
Heels clicked along the hallway as the General headed for where he was needed, he still couldn’t believe he was agreeing to this, there was a lot to be done here tonight though he hadn’t told his fellow General. He had however looked into what the other has asked him to; of course he had. The answer he’d gotten was why in his arms a gray body was curled, one paw resting on his arm whilst the other was tucked in close to the body.
“I’m going to leave the upgrade to you Katya, that is where you get to shine.” Though he couldn’t remember the last time she’d upgraded anyone. He did know she’d woken a few senshi but rather than corrupt senshi they had been dark mirror senshi, as she’d been out with Acubens at the time. She could handle this, he knew she could, and she was confident in herself. She had a black crystal tucked away in subspace waiting for the time she’d need it, he knew nothing of these upgrades, he knew he was here for more than this though.
Reaching the office door he raised a hand and knocked. “I’ll handle my task first than you can have the stage.”
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Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 8:11 pm
Catching up, she saw her General and what looked like another Mau. She’d only met Soyala before so it would be nice to meet more of them. “Ohh, Hello. Did you bring a friend? Is stabilizing my powers that dangerous?” That was the goal of the evening and she knew that if they went into the Rift for things, she’d need both of them to make sure the youma didn’t try and attack her.
Pushing open the door to her brother’s office, she heard another person talking in there. “Sorry to interrupt but I figured you’d want to get started?” Blinking for a moment, she couldn’t see anyone else in there besides Chalcanthite.
Right on time and together it seemed. Standing up to greet them both, he motioned for them to come in and shut the door. Noticing the Mau, he felt a bit better about promoting her. “I have a few theories on how we can go about this first bit, based on the research I have done on the crystals. Each one can resonate at a different frequency much like everything else in this world but, if we can find one that matches you, then maybe that can help bring things back to a more stable state.” It was similar to how his current working theory on crystal tuning forks would work. A harmonizing hum that could calm youma momentarily could also potentially help his sister.
“Benitoite and I can help provide coverage for you on the ground and Voce here can keep an eye out from the sky. The rift is very dangerous for senshi if they are alone but I figure we can manage anything that pops up so you can focus on finding the right crystal.”
Voce stopped preening themself as they heard their name mentioned again. “Generals to assist a broken senshi.” Chittering with some words spoken in various different voices, each one a different agent or senshi they’d heard over the years but the last two had a level of poison in them even if Voce was only mimicking what they’d heard. Eyeing the Mau from his perch, he fluffed up to look a bit scarier, cats were nasty things that liked to bite and scratch at their feathers.
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Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 8:42 pm
“It’s not that things are dangerous per say…but rather the Rift itself is dangerous to corrupt senshi and Mauvians. Between two generals however you both will remain safe.” Shrugging as he spoke the petite general had no issue in talking about the dangers of the rift, why hide it or sugar coat it. “Even if you and Katya serve chaos the youma don’t see that. They still see a senshi and a mauvian and will attack.”
Taking a seat, whether it was offered or not, the ashen blond stared up at his fellow general. “That makes sense, the resonating bit, so it means we’re just going to be wandering for a while. I do hope you’ve looked into all of this as I’m rather unfamiliar myself.” He had one corrupt senshi under him really so this wasn’t something he needed to know about, at least not till now.
“I’m here for other reasons, not because the help is needed in helping stabilize your magic, mauvians like myself have a lot to do with corrupt senshi. It’s why the negaverse brings us in…we can’t really do much for officers - they rather handle themselves. They corrupt each other and general kings and general queens do the promoting. We’re not needed but for you and other corrupt senshi.,..that’s where we shine.“ And Katya would not let anyone forget that she was special and deserving of attention, and praise, she even looked like a princess with her little cloth crown that gave way to what sort of clothing she wore in her part human form.
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Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 8:44 pm
“Ah I see that makes a bit of sense, I have had some issues with youma when on patrol from time to time. Most of the time I was able to handle it with no issues but with how the Rift is where they come from it would be more like trying to fight on their home turf.” Looking at the bird youma that sat on the perch she felt uneasy, the voices it used felt covered in malice. She’d seen Arseno’s youma and they had seemed decent enough but her brother’s felt very different.
“That makes sense at least, from when I was brought in. It seems like there are maybe some added steps but if you’re not here to help with my magic, what brings you along?” Soyala had stuck around long enough to get her settled but after that, they’d parted ways and she hadn’t heard anything from them in a while.
“I have looked into things, at least as much as I could. Of course, a lot of it follows into what I have been researching so maybe my reasons for helping could be slightly skewed that way too.” The main reason was to help her but if he found anything else interesting regarding that wall of crystals, then that could work out in his favor as well. “In theory, I have a few ideas of where to look so our wandering should be cut to a minimum. The area just takes a while to get to but I know the path well and I know the routes the normal youma take in the area as well. We should be able to avoid most of them with timing alone.”
Looking over everyone in his office, he stood back up and dusted off his hands. “I think we can start this journey if everyone is ready?”
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Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 8:48 pm
“Exactly, and a fight on their turf would not be easy for anyone but especially a corrupt senshi. Even though you’re on our side they do not care. Even though in a sense we’re corrupted knights ourselves.” Shrugging a bit as he spoke, casting a look to his fellow General. “I would have been a Castor knight myself. But Zinkenite got to me first so I don’t have to serve some annoying Prince.” Because that would not have gone well. Had he been a knight and met Castor he was certain things would have ended poorly, for them both likely.
“I can only suspect the reason for the difference is that you are still a senshi of some sort. Where as we have weapons rather than the tinker toys the knights carry, and their magic.” There were distinct differences between a knight and an officer where as not so much with senshi and corrupt senshi, enough that the youma no doubt noticed. “The youma have claimed the rift to the point of there having once been a bar down there. I haven’t found it again and can’t be certain it remains, but it was once there.” Deep in the rift and there had been a mission which had brought them there. The place was vast
“I’m here with a special gift.” Katya spoke gently, pointing a paw at the corrupt senshi, she was here on an important mission. “I am here to help you attain more power, because you are ready for it. Rather than asking a general king or queen to help I’ve asked for a crystal which will give me the ability to promote you!” Benitoite knew this, he knew everything Katya got up to, she kept him well in the loop of whatever she was doing. Though mostly she was reading at home, he knew what she was reading, he also knew when she nicked things from the high end stores downtown for herself.
“Your starseed is ready for some more power…but first you need to stabilize your magic, so that first then I get the limelight.” From where she was in her Generals arms the russian blue eyed the taller General. “Let’s go then. I don’t really like the rift. The youma would rather eat me.” And she didn’t like not being able to roam a place on her own if she so chose to. She liked her freedom and independence.
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Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 8:49 pm
He’d heard that before from them, wondering if he’d been meant for something else before everything had happened. It had been something he’d dwelled on years ago but he was too tied to things and this was the side he’d chosen. “I prefer you on this side of things, I would really not enjoy having to fight you.” Returning the shrug, there was a bit of anxiety in his voice. They’d made a very strong case on keeping loyal to the negaverse, traitors deserved to die and Benitoite would probably not bat an eye if it came to that even if he was helping them out with things. If they’d been on opposite sides to begin with though, who’s to say they wouldn’t still be as effective at fighting?
Picking up the notebooks and a few things from his desk, he made his way toward the door and motioned for them both to follow as Voce hopped up onto his shoulder. “Off we go, everyone.”
Aoede nodded and listened, she’d learned a bit about knights from the few she’d met although she couldn’t picture her General as one of them. Hearing the Mau talk about a promotion stole her attention though. “Oh, yes that sounds very nice.” More power meant that she could probably handle herself a bit better against some of the order senshi, though the one who burned her was a whole nother matter. “I guess we should hurry to get this handled so neither of us gets turned into a snack.” Smiling a bit she got up and followed her brother out of their office.
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Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 8:54 pm
“Trust me when I say I prefer this side as well. Were I woken onto their side I doubt I’d be the fighter I am now, as that side seems to lack in aggression.” He doubted he’d be anywhere near as strong or as vicious, though he would have at least reached knight level power. “Were they able to forcefully purify someone, and decided to do it to me, they would find me unwilling to help them if I remembered fighting for the Negaverse.” It would make him an entirely useless knight to order. He didn’t think there was anything which would shake him and make him choose the other side, he had in the past perhaps dabbled in the idea or thought, but he was firm in his stance on things.
More so now perhaps considering other ideas he had going on, other things he was considering more and more as of late. With Katya in his arms he moved to follow after his fellow knight. He looked regal…though small and perhaps not as commanding because of that. But he really did reek of confidence as he moved.
“I can assure you that no youma will try and make either of you a snack, not unless they’d like to deal with me first. I might serve the Negaverse but so do you both and the youma…and I won’t have a youma betraying outside by attacking either of you.” Nodding to his teammate and the cat he held in his arms.
“Yes, a promotion does sound nice. It will be nicer once it’s done.” And then this corrupt could do some damage to order, she was sure of it, their sphere told her all she needed to know. If she didn’t make ears bleed once she was an eternal Katya would be surprised…and disappointed. She would like to see senshi, and knights, with bleeding ears and ruptured eardrums from this one. She would make a good weapon on a battlefield.
“Let us be off.” Nodding her head from where she was curled into her Generals arms. She knew she was safe…no youma would cross them, unless it wanted to be hurt severely.
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Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 9:00 pm
As soon as he entered the Rift, he felt that familiar curiosity he always had here. Voce hopped off his shoulder and took flight, starting on the planned path that they had both taken through the Rift for the past few years. It was like clockwork as he ventured along a path that he’d cut out here, barely noticeable against the terrain down here. Thumbing the black feather on his fife, he watched the surroundings carefully as they made their way up the winding path to the wall of singing crystals he’d found. “Be careful and watch your step, it is a long drop to the bottom as we go up the pathway.”
Bits of shattered crystal littered the path as they got closer, the ones he found that weren’t up to the standard he’d needed for his work. None of them had been able to stay together for long once he’d started the resonance process. 240Hz was the point at which they would shake apart into pieces if they had any inclusions or imperfections. He’d only found one perfect crystal, the one he had made his fife from, and it had some interesting effects when music was played on it.
When the wall peeked out from behind the rocky cliffside, he paused and listened to that familiar noise. That humming song of the singing crystals as they glowed slightly in the dark. It was a beautiful if not slightly alien sight for the uninitiated. For him it was like he’d arrived at his home away from home, the place he’d spent years studying at this point.
“Thank you Beni.” It made things a bit easier as she followed her brother through the Rift. It was a desolate place that made the hair stand up on the back of her neck, she felt watched even though she couldn’t see anything else moving around. Holding her braid over her shoulder, she made sure it didn’t get snagged on any of the outcrops of crystals or rock as the path got narrower.
A few times the bird youma, Voce, had made an odd noise. It must have meant things were clear because Chal hadn’t stopped. She could hear a sound as they got closer to what she assumed was the target area. There was a vibration in the air as a low hum tickled at the very edge of what she could hear. Crystals crunched under her heels as she walked right into him, he’d stopped and it took her a moment to realize they’d arrived.
“Oh my…” Her eyes widened as she looked at the wall of glowing crystals, it was gorgeous even if she could see spots where it had been harvested from.
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Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 9:01 pm
Following behind his fellow General, hands in his pockets, he didn’t seem at all bothered by the trip and whatever they passed by. The glow from the crystals providing their only light wasn’t a bother, he had grown used to it over the years, as he kept to the corrupt’s side. “I’m sure you can feel the youma watching us from the shadows.” He was certain he’d seen some moving shadows, which meant they weren’t really shadows, but so far nothing had approached them thankfully.
“I used to wander this place, a lot, and read down here even. You can find enough light in some places in order to do so.” Speaking softly, off handed, as he looked over the brilliant crystals and their glow. “This is a rather nice place, there are certainly some nice places here.”
“It is lovely down here, especially here.” It was a shame she couldn’t wander about down here all on her own, she would like it if she could, this place was not just vast but also contained alot. She wished she could come down here all on her own, without someone to keep her safe.
“So, what are we going to be doing with these lovely crystals?” If she could get her way she wouldn’t mind having some brought up with them, for her to keep of course, the glow would and appearance of the crystals was lovely and oh so fitting for one such as herself. But what should would use them for…that was the question.
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Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 9:03 pm
“Now is your time to shine, each of these crystals has its own resonance and with luck one of them may match your own. Whichever ones fail to work, I will keep for my own research as long as they are up to the level of quality I am looking for.” Stepping forward he pulled his fife from his pocket and started comparing things to it one by one. He’d gotten lucky that day and hoped things would work out again. Picking one that looked free of impurities he handed it over to Mel. “Hold it close and see how it works, if you can feel it resonating with your starseed.” It could work in theory, if it did he could add that to his list of achievements.
“Anything that we leave ends up becoming part of the shattered remains you saw on the way up here. If you would like some you may take them if it is alright with Benitoite. I have turned some of them into instruments, one of which can draw others towards me. I have to be careful with it for various reasons.” Looking towards Beni, he nodded for a moment. It had been something he’d brought up to them years back when the thought of what his fife could be used for had weighed on him. Things had changed now, he was more comfortable warping people, bringing them close, and trying to pull them into the Negaverse. Anything to keep the balance that allowed him to act more passively otherwise so he could keep from harm as well as keep an eye on those close to him. He was always ready to offer a helping hand to others who seemed lost because the Negaverse had options and a network to support people. As long as they could pull their weight when it came down to it. It also helped that he could use it as another way to keep an eye on people he worried about by being able to pull someone to him since he was a General.
“I wander down here quite frequently still, I enjoy the peace I have here where I can work undisturbed. I also met interesting youma, some of which seemed more human than others.” Just as he’d met Bazzite all those years ago, it had been interesting then as he’d tried coping with things by diving into work in the Rift.
Following along, she admired the glow of the crystals. Carefully tracing her fingers across a few of them, she noticed the weird instrument in her brother’s hand. It sounded like something out of a fairy tale, one that could be dangerous for him or anyone involved. “Just like in Hamelin?” It was said mostly to herself as she took the offered crystal. It felt weird in her hands like it was angry almost.
“Oh, that doesn’t feel pleasant.” Offering it back, she started looking touching the various crystals, feeling for one that felt different from the rest. Each one felt odd in a different way, some hummed similarly to what she felt in her starseed but not strongly enough. Maybe it was because some of them weren’t whole or had little flecks of something else inside them. This really wasn’t something she knew about and was a bit surprised her brother had a clue about something like this. The theory of resonance maybe but actual geology, no that was a weird thing for him to know.
Humming quietly to herself, she tried acting as a tuning fork for her starseed. It was a talent they both had and used frequently when playing their respective instruments or teaching students how to tune their own instruments. Adjusting her glasses, she walked past her brother and Beni while examining the wall, it went up as far as the eye could see in the dark as the glow faded into the darkness. She could tell one of them would work, she felt a kind of pull dragging her further away from the others. Hearing a different low hum than that of the collective of those crystals, she closed her eyes and tried to focus on that as she pushed away everything else that was going on around her.
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Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2023 9:04 pm
Keeping a few paces back, blue eyes watching the darkness around them, he really wasn’t much for this. It wasn’t something he knew much about so he was leaving this to his fellow General who had more of a clue in this area of things. He did keep looking over to the corrupt though, watching, as he wanted to see if she found what she was looking for. He didn’t understand much about these crystals and them resonating with a person's starseed, for him it made no sense.
“I think I’ll collect a few shards on the way, see if something can’t be done with them, I wonder if they’ll glow at all when I bring them home.” He wouldn’t mind them if they provided a nice glow, he might keep them in his room for the bits of familiar lighting they’d provide. He had spent enough time down here that he was rather fond of the glow which this place let off, it was calming, it wasn’t so harsh on the eyes and would be easy to fall asleep to.
Keeping a hold of Katya, who was silently watching, he nodded his head slowly to a question she whispered. “Indeed, I think she will find it here too.”
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Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2023 4:48 pm
"Yes, just like Hamelin." Running his hand over the feathers tied to it, he closed his eyes and listened for a moment. Sometimes he could tell just from the sound if one wasn't good enough, tapping the surface with his nail to hear if it made a dull sound or not. It worked best on the ones that looked perfect to the naked eye, the ones that rang dully with the same sound a chipped bell made.
Turning, he watched as his sister walked off. Hearing the humming, he remembered how he'd do the same when teaching. Hearing the sound, he hummed it back to himself as he tried to listen for a similar sound. He still kept an eye out for other youma just in case though.Focusing, she found a crystal just at waist level. It hummed with that same tone she'd been making. Carefully plucking the thing from the wall, it felt... right. Holding it to the crack in her chest, she felt it resonating in her hands. That feeling she'd had since being awakened, that chaotic untuned vibration in her chest, started to harmonize with the thing as she hummed along with it. Soft words came as she started to sing to the tune of the thing, a song she'd always used to calm down after a rough day. There was a moment, where everything felt in tune, felt like it was in perfect harmony, and then the crystal shattered to dust in her hands. It's job done, the thing had shaken itself to pieces. She turned back to the group after she'd made a little shriek at the thing coming apart between her hands. "Did.. did it work?" She really didn't like asking her brother for help but... this was something that only he would know.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 8:38 pm
This really wasn't somethign he knew a thing about, especially the resonating and the musical aspect, it was out of his element here and so he kept back and watched as the corrupt went about hunting for the right crystal. Her brother meanwhile was testing crystals for...seomthing. "Is that like when someone checks crystal glasses and the sound they make? T o tel lthe quality and if they are authentic?" He did remember his grandmother talking about that once, when he was little, about her collection of crystal cups and flutes and other things she used at the bigger family events. She didn't just use them for anything and she had mentioned it, making sure everyone knew they weren't to be used for just anything. The normal glasses were used for everything which the crystal was not used for. He also knew she'd had a time of hunting down al lthe crystal ware she had, making sure it was all good quality, and that was where the sound had come in. He didn't remember everything she'd said but he did remember the gist of it all.
Looking over at the question he tilted his head a bit. "I think so?" A glance to his fellow general to confirm the idea that the crystal hjad done it's job. "That is right, correct?"
"Well, seeing as I believe it worked it's now my turn." And she jumped out of Benitotie's arms and landed on the ground. She herself had a crystal which she was able to pluck from subspace as well. This one was different than the other one, which had hopefully solved the magic issue. "Now, you are ready for a b it more magic, especially now since you can handle it." And it wouldn't turn on her, or other people, it would be a safe time for the corrup to gain abit more power.
"Now, can you summon your henshin pen for me?" She asked as polite as possible, happy to be helping a corrupt gain more power. She'd had to ask how to go about things, since this was her first time doing this, but she was more than ready for this. Sitting on the ground, even if it was dirty, she would just have her human give her a bath once they got home. She sat waiting for the corrupt to summon her pen so Katya could do her job and give the girl a bit more power.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 8:57 pm
He'd heard the shriek and tensed for a moment before seeing his sister turn. She felt a bit different, her signature wasn't as unstable as it had felt before. "Yes, I believe it did." Turning to look at Benitoite, he smiled a bit, surprised they had figured out what he had been doing. "Yes in fact I was, even if one looks clear of imperfections, they make a dull sound if there are ones hidden from the naked eye." He'd figured it out early on in his explorations. Pocketing a few into his subspace, he walked up closer as Katya hopped down, he'd never seen a senshi gain more power before and was very interested in the whole process. Watching Katya hop down she listened and pulled out her henshin pen holding it out to them. Looking over towards Benitoite and her brother for a moment as they moved in closer. It all felt a bit rushed to her but at the same time, she really didn't want to spend much longer down here. There were so many youma here that wanted to eat her or the mau that sat in front of her. It would be good to have a bit more power though, to be able to use her magic without having her ears ringing. Maybe it would also work out that her fellow agents or senshi wouldn't be effected either but she wasn't going to press her luck.
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