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 Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2025 6:35 pm
Khazran Khalid was walking home from school, enjoying the quiet for a bit after hopping off the bus that took him down into the city. He was taking a detour to pick up Yasmeen from Knightside. Sure, he didn't have to, their cousin, Keisha, was going to Meadowview, and could probably get there faster than Khazran could, and would happily pick up Yasmeen on her own, but the threesome were close--always had been, probably always would be. Even if school was just starting to gear up again after Christmas break, bringing with it homework for all of them, even though the light frost they'd been getting meant they couldn't go swimming in the Khalids' pool, that didn't mean they didn't enjoy spending time together, studying and just simply hanging out.
He exhaled, grinning as the vapor of his breath looked like a dragon's superheated breath in the cold and frosty air. Their plans weren't terribly complicated, maybe get some coffee on the way home (hot cocoa for Yasmeen), go to the Lyons' home, do their homework together while waiting for their respective parents to finish work, keep Keisha company in the kitchen if she got done with her homework before her dad got home. It would be easier if they congregated at the Khalids' instead; three adults and three children in a more modestly sized house was always a squeeze, but the cozy atmosphere of the Lyons', especially since they openly celebrated Christmas, and hadn't taken all the decorations down yet...that was something to savor. Summer would swing back around soon enough, and, as the weather warmed, they'd spend more time in the AC and pool of the Khalid home.
So wrapped up in his thoughts was he that Khaz didn't even notice that anything might be amiss on a serene afternoon like this.
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Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2025 9:46 pm
Fantasia was out on her own that evening, Heather staying home to enjoy the rest of her holiday break. The first semester of college, even if it was Community College, had been hell on the poor girl, and she'd taken the last two weeks off of patrolling, at Fantasia's insistence, of course. Honestly, between that, work, and taking care of that sweet boy, she really did work too hard, she deserved a day off. And it pleased Fantasia to no end knowing that her girl was snuggled up snug as a bug at home, sleeping soundly at last, while Fantasia went out in her stead. She may not have been a senshi, but she certainly could hold her own. And besides, it gave Fantasia time to herself. She loved Heather and she loved Max but... sometimes she wondered if they forgot that she was a highly evolved, intelligent creature and not just a house cat. Well... she wondered if Heather forgot that. And granted, Fantasia didn't make a great case for herself, spending the time that she wasn't managing Moira's senshi time napping in the sun, or on someone's lap, or in her favorite chair... yeah okay, she could see why Heather made the mistake sometimes. Truth be told, Fantasia had been a bit lacking in her work as a Mauvian. She had gotten rather quite used to being a house cast, and maybe she'd forgotten who and what she was as well. It was high time she got out and did her job. She already wasn't there in time to awaken her Moira, she could at the very least get out and patrol. The cold wasn't so bad with the fur covering her anyway, and it certainly helped that she had asked Heather to put her into one of her sweaters before she left. She was about an hour into her patrol when something... odd caught her attention. Not a youma or a chaos aura but something... else... something... familiar. Starseed...A starseed slept nearby. She could feel it the same way she could feel her own bond with Moira. It was close and it... whispered to her. Beckoned her. Invited her close. There was no choas near by, but she still beat a hasty path towards the seed and the young man who housed it, positioning herself in his path and deciding how best to proceed. After all, a talking cat could be quite startling, and the last thing she wanted to do was scare him away before she could awaken him.
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Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2025 3:55 am
Khaz paused when he saw the brown tabby move onto the sidewalk ahead of him. She was awfully cute. To be fair, most cats were, Neith and Keisha's Van sisters included. That said, this one looked like she had an oddly perfect white five-pointed star on her forehead. Odder still were the little pink-and-white stockings she was wearing on her back legs, buttoned up very neatly over her heels. Someone liked to dress up their cat.
Khaz shrugged slightly, but knelt a short distance away from the unfamiliar cat, extending his hand to let her sniff it and decide on her own whether she wanted pets. It was, according to his aunt, the best way to approach an unfamiliar cat. Sure, it'd delay him meeting up with Yasmeen and Keisha, but they'd forgive him this moment of getting sidetracked. After all, it was a very cute kitty.
"Hey there. How are you doing?" he asked softly. "Are you friendly? If you're shy, I get it, I won't push you if you don't want it."
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Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2025 9:49 am
The boy was familiar with cats! Or rather, with earth cats, but still it pleased Fantasia that he was, at the very least, respectful. Heather once told Fantasia that earth cats were an exercise in consent, and she was utterly correct. The way someone handled a cat told both Fantasia and Heather a lot about who they were, and this boy was absolutely perfect. Right down to the way he spoke to her. No baby talk in sight. Not, of course, that she'd fault anyone for that -- earth cats seemed to respond do such things favorably. "No need for that, dear," she said warmly, approaching the boy with a prance in her step. "And I'm very well, thank you. More so now for having met you! You, my dear boy, are very special." She stopped at his feet, looking up at him with what could have been a smile on her face were she human. "But first, the niceties. Manners maketh man, after all, and though I am Mauvian, I still have my aires about me." She dipped her torso forward in a bow for her introduction. "I am Fantasia, Mauvian in service of Sailor Moira. And while I know who you were born to be, I should like to know how you are as you are now."
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Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2025 3:23 pm
Khaz froze, blinking in surprise. This was...unexpected. Sure, a lot of unexplained stuff had been going on in Destiny City for the last several years, he could barely remember a time without the chaotic crime levels his mother and aunt insisted weren't normal. But a talking cat? Was there something else to the mysterious occurrences that had been going on for so long?
He dropped his hand, but didn't get up, feeling embarrassed about having treated a sentient, sapient creature like an ordinary cat. "Ummm, I'm sorry, that was probably kinda rude, treating you like a regular housecat. And I'm pretty sure you've got that wrong. I think I would've noticed if I was anything out of the ordinary," he said quietly. "I don't know about these 'Sailors' or 'Mauvians' you're talking about, but I think you may have the wrong person. Surely someone special would have magic and shiz, like in books and movies. Aren't they usually born supernatural? I wasn't born supernatural, so, nope, sorry, I think you've got the wrong person."
Khaz bowed his head. "It might be kinda cool if I were at all the kind of person you were looking for, but I'm still glad to have met you." Getting to his feet, he added, "I'm really sorry, I promised I'd pick up my little sister from school. My cousin is waiting for me with her. You could come with if you'd like, but if you're searching for someone, I'd rather not keep you," he said politely.Sweenys_Revenge Quick, Fantasia! STOP THE NICE IDIOT.
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Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2025 4:59 pm
To his credit, the boy did take the introduction of a talking cat in very impressive stride. He had run for the hills just yet, but Fantasia also hadn't invited him to power up so... jury was still out on fleeing, she supposed. Still, she waved a paw at his apology, insisting, "no need for apologies dea boy. You had no way of knowing, and had I been an ordinary cat I would have been very appreciative of the attention." She didn't mention that she was appreciative of the attention as a Mauvian as well. Magical cat though she might have been, she was still a cat, and ear scratches were nice regardless of species. "And, respectfully, dear boy... no you wouldn't. People who are special rarely ever know so until they are forced to act specially. And you do know who the Sailor Senshi are, the trouble is that the media has branded them as terrorists and well... that's a whole other conversation." One upon which Fantasia had a great many opinions and conspiracy theories. Enough so that Heather had a little tinfoil hat fashioned for her for when she got off on one of those specific tangents. "I do, however, understand that time is of the essence. Not just for you in this moment, but for the world. In short, you, dear boy, are a Sailor Senshi. Sailor... Aberdonia if I'm not mistaken." And Fantasia was never mistaken. If you will just indulge me for one more moment, and then I will release you to her filial duties." Being a cat of very little fanfare and even less pomp and or circumstance, Fantasia trotted in front of the boy, did her magical little back flip, and landed with a small green and gold pen and a matching cell phone between her paws. "These are yours, Aberdonia. The pen will help you unlock your as-of-yet dormant abilities and the phone will help you keep in contact with your allies." she shook out other head, rather proud of herself for her job well done. "I have already gone to the trouble of programming my senshi's information into the phone as well as my own. Of course it has other functions, travel to your planet for example, and of course access to the moon palace. All in due time, I'm sure." She sat back after that, tail curled around her front paws as she waited. "I believe you said family awaited you, dear boy. Unless... you have questions. In which case I of course have answers."
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Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2025 12:57 am
Sailor Senshi--the terrorists? Maybe they weren't really, if he was one of them. Khaz didn't want to terrorize anyone. Just make the world a beautiful place, both inside and out, and to protect his loved ones in what ways he could, which, honestly, weren't really very many.
He glanced down at the pen and phone. He didn't really need either, but as they appeared to be a gift of some sort, it would be rude to refuse them. Khaz stooped to pick them up, pausing to really stare at the pen. It was such an odd pen. There was a topper on the cap that almost looked reminiscent of one of the gas planets and its rings, but stamped with an ancient Egyptian-style motif of--were those lotuses, or papyri? He'd never really studied ancient Egypt in much detail, he knew they were big early proponents of makeup for practical purposes, and they'd also been big in the chemistry department, but that was kinda it. Anyway, he knew that that motif was a plant of some kind.
Listening to the Mauvian explain what these things did with bemusement, he turned it on, taking a quick glance at the features on it, including the speed dial, filled with unfamiliar names, sorted alphabetically by weird Sailor Senshi names. Did these people have real names, mundane lives? If he was one of them, it would make sense if they did, too. And it could be used for planetary travel. If this was magic, sure, why the heck wouldn't it do that. The last thought sat somewhere between hysteria and sarcasm, the whole conversation was so odd.
And an odd phrase was tickling the back of his mind...
Better to ask about it.
"So, ummm, how do I unlock these dormant abilities? And if we're going to continue this conversation a bit longer, maybe we shouldn't do it on the sidewalk." They were passing a park with a copse of trees growing close together. It would work well enough to conceal them from other eyes. "We should probably continue over there," he said, gesturing toward the copse. "So we don't get noticed by unfriendly eyes, right?" Besides, if other people thought he was transforming into a terrorist, or an actual terrorist saw him transform, maybe he wouldn't get attacked right off the bat. He wasn't sure he could protect the cute little Mauvian if something went pear-shaped now.Sweenys_Revenge Not sure if the senshi here just know their transformation phrases, or if a Mauvian has to tell them, thought I'd leave that more up to you!
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Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2025 9:45 am
Still no running away! Over and over, this boy negated his insistence that he was not special. Anyone else would have left. Chalked this whole thing up to a crazy vivd day dream and be on their way. But not this boy. Not this soldier. He stayed. He asked questions. He appraised the situation with a clear and calm mind. He began planning like a senshi. No, Fantasia was never wrong, and now seemed to only reinforce that fact. To say she was feeling smug as she followed her new senshi to the treeline would have been a but of an understatement. Call it a data flaw, but Fantasia was proud of herself for finding Aberdonia first and proud of Aberdonia for taking to his new position so naturally. Then again, why shouldn't he? This was, after all, his cosmic destiny. There was a jewel nestled close next to his heart that knew exactly what to do. remembered what to do. Would guide him on his path as he relearned this wonderful purpose. But she was getting ahead of herself. "The incantation is different for everyone. My Moira says 'Moira Power Make Up' and..." Fantasia made some vague magical gesture with her paws to finish her statement. "Though I must warn you before you take on this mantle. You are about to enter into a cosmic war older than even this world itself. You are about to take up the sword of a small minority of powerful soldiers against an foe of untold power and reach. You, young man, are about to become a part of something far bigger than yourself, your family, and even Earth itself. If you with to continue then," he nodded at the pen in his hand. "Become who ou were destined to become." elfstar89 It depends, some know it some are told. It's up to you.
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Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2025 6:07 pm
Khaz was quiet as they passed into the copse, listening to the Mauvian and examining the pen as he walked. It really was a strange thing, with a topper that should be too heavy to balance nicely in the writer's hand. And he had a feeling that cap was meant to stay on the pen at all times. Which suggested that "pen" wasn't necessarily the right word for what it was, merely how it functioned.
He paused once they were in deep enough to be out of sight, thinking.
"So, this cosmic war...it's going to affect everyone, isn't it? Even if they have no part in it? Even if they don't even know it's going on?" It made sense. The increased crime rate that hadn't existed until shortly before his birth. The amount of disasters. The sheer level of death and property damage. The strange, inexplicable events that the newscasters never really talked about--was this the great cosmic war? If so, it was already here, and innocents were already dying. Which wasn't right, not at a--
Wait. If innocents were dying without rhyme or reason...could his loved ones die in this war, never knowing it was already going strong? His sister, their mother, their cousin Keisha, their aunt Shams, their uncle Tyriq? None of them deserved to die in a war beyond their knowledge or understanding. None of the innocents who'd died so far deserved to die, particularly some of the horrific deaths died already.
Khaz's grip tightened on the pen. On his pen. On his opportunity to protect and even save everyone he loved. Save everyone he had ever loved.
He raised his pen skyward, gazing up at it as his resolve solidified. He wasn't going to let anyone else suffer like that. Not if he could do anything to stop it. If he was going to make the world sparkle and shine both inside and out...he could feel it in his bones. This was his first step. Even if the dream wasn't shaped the way he thought it was.
"Well, if the war's going to happen whether I like it or not, the least I can do is stop the war from affecting the innocent bystanders and the people I love."
Khaz turned away from the Mauvian.
"Aberdonia Power, Make-UP!!!" he shouted.
A sparkling light suffused him, and he thought he glimpsed rushes and reeds surround him, binding around him, softening like the softest linen he'd ever felt around his body, clinging in certain places, and draping in others.
He glanced down at himself, and started looking himself over. Okay. This was...different. And very ancient Egyptian. Bright golds and earthy greens, and a white shirt that left his midriff exposed. Cuffs and fancy sandals and a wide collar, with the kilt around his waist tied with a sash and a tiara at his brow. Glancing down at the brooch he felt securing the collar, he glimpsed the same floral motif from his pen, only colored in gold and a dark, earthy green, almost seeming to bloom. Reaching up to his tiara, Aberdonia felt a matching gem inscribed with the same design as the brooch, as the pen, which he seemed to have misplaced.
He turned to the Mauvian.
"Ummm...how do I look? Also, uhhh...how do I de-transform and do all the magical stuff? And can you explain the cosmic war to me afterward, while I'm heading to meet my sister and my cousin? I'll try not to bug you with too many questions," he added.
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