Welcome to Gaia! ::

A new pattern seemed to be emerging, one that didn’t bother him at first, but now he had noticed an uptick in the frequency of Desiree’s absences since the fight against the Calamitous Hollow. Nothing ever seemed wrong when his Mauvian returned; she always ended up curling up for a nap with him on the couch if he was down there when she came back, but still, he worried.

So after she had come back one night with a large but empty tote bag, he sent a message to Sakura asking if Desiree had been there or if they had seen her wandering. While he didn’t mind her going off and gathering parts to work with, he was still uneasy over not knowing where she was going for those large chunks of time in the early evening, just around sunset.

Passing it off as concern more than the worry over a slip of control, he hoped they would look into things for him. While Desiree hadn’t been directly avoiding him, he knew she kept much of what she worked on to herself. Maybe it was because she wanted to keep things under wraps until whatever it was had been completed and worked, or maybe it was something else, but he didn’t like not knowing what was going on in the manor. But because of her history always being there even before awakening as a mauvian, he was giving her a slight benefit of doubt.

Settling into her slow pace, Desiree fiddled with a few more of the books in her bag before pulling her keychain out. She was getting close enough to the condemned home Portia had taken over that it wouldn’t do well for her to be seen in this form. Clicking the keychain, she stood and brushed herself off slightly before adjusting the sack of books.

Fixing a few strands of hair and checking her phone, she saw no new messages from any of those who had her civilian number. Clicking her tongue slightly, she tucked he phone away and looked around. Even before switching to this form, she’d felt like she was being followed, but there hadn’t been any signatures, so it was another case of a civilian that could go either way.

Standing for a moment more, she turned to look around, unsure of where anyone who was following might be, but she needed to head them off if they were going to interfere with her business. It was delicate work, and she needed to make sure all variables were within her acceptable risk value.

Hearing the motion, the rustle of leaves and gravel, Desiree moved closer and she swore she could see a familiar face tucked behind the leaves. Some of the tension eased out of her as she sighed and shook her head. It made sense, that her behaviour might be noticed, but she didn’t think Sakura would do this on her own. They weren’t someone who normally would be sneaking around and following people. This… this was something Aloysius put them up to and she pressed a palm to her temple as she could swear she felt her eye twitch from the annoyance of it. Being babysat was the last thing she needed, really, it wasn’t like she was a child, but this might work out in her favor as well.

Stepping forward again, with a book in hand just in case it was someone else, Desiree nudged the brush with the tip of her shoe. “No use hiding, did my musician put you up to this?” Not quite accusatory of Sakura, but more so tired of the antics of her human, she let out another slight sigh. “No matter, get off the ground before you get dirty. I doubt she’d appreciate someone looking like they rolled in the foliage coming into her home.”

Taking a moment to look back towards the home hidden a bit further ahead behind some of the dead-looking trees, she could see that the camping light of hers lighting up the small sitting room beyond one of the windows.

Tucking the book away, she shook her head and made a note to scold her musician lightly later for nosing into her business. “I have been perfectly fine and safe, working on a little… pet project of mine if you will.” Gesturing vaguely ahead, she then looked over Sakura and fixed a few mussed strands of hair. Stepping back, she nodded to herself, saying that they looked presentable enough.

Giving a pointed look as they mentioned powering up, she shushed them quickly. “No. As a civilian. She’s not ready for chaos, yet.” Lingering on the yet part, she knew this would be a good test of how another civilian interaction would go with Portia.

“Those… outsiders, you know of them and they come in different shapes and sizes.” Not waiting for a response but knowing that Sakura had interacted with at least one before, she continued on with her explanation.

“I found a potential.. sympathizer who I have been working on easing into things in this new place they find themself in.” Leaving things vague and mundane enough just in case Portia made an appearance, she opened her satchel to show the books on culture, history, and social interactions.

“Lessons to make one more understanding of our ways while keeping things simple. With me as an outsider, from another place on this planet, someone with a potential similarity to them. And… non-threatening.” Tracing a few fingers over her blind eye, she still had a scar; no matter what form she took, she had many that were more apparent without her fur to hide them. The newest one akin to a snake with the edge peering out on her throat above her collar.

Smiling slightly, she offered the bag of books for Sakura to carry. “This one does and reads…. Ravenously. I also have come to understand she’s not one to enjoy being disturbed or bothered by the less… mundane sort of people.” Meaning a powered up meeting was still a bit farther off but there was still progress being made.

“You’re a friend of mine who decided to come help me carry things since I got a bit injured during the poor weather. Just a bit of a zap, much like any other normal civilian during things.” Though her scar hadn’t faded away like it had with the other civilians who had been hit while in the city. Perhaps it was because she was much closer to the beast.

Stepping ahead, letting the other fall in line beside her, she smiled to hide the bit of nervousness on bringing another stranger and how it might bother the senshi.

Offering nothing more than a nod for the moment, she would let the other know of some of what she’d been up to at a later time. But the mention of a brother did pique her interest. “Yes, we should, perhaps at the townhome over some tea.” Away from her nosey musician, at least until she was confident enough that this would go through without any incidents.

In another few minutes, they both stood on the doorstep, and she rapped the coded knock against the old wood of the door. “Another friend of mine decided to help me today. Some of the books were a bit heavier than I expected, so I needed the help, dear Portia.” Speaking sweetly with the cadence of a well-meaning visitor, she waited until the door opened and smiled.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

With the rapping on the door, Portia touched that henshin of hers and pulled on that mantle of senshi she was growing very tired of. That connection to the silent prison of hers was weighing on her ever since that creature had been contained. Not defeated, mind you, but simply locked away to be dealt with at a later date.

The mention of a different friend or guest had her hesitate until the reason for it was supplied. It was acceptable, she knew Desiree tended to bring more gifts than she felt the woman should be carrying with her limited vision. All it would take would be to step off of the path or into a puddle, and the woman might fall and break something. It bothered her that they did much on their own, so she could accept the need for assistance and opened the door.

Towering over them both, she looked down at the guest, this one much easier to tell that they were a woman as well, unlike the small blonde from last time. But then she looked at Desiree and saw what looked like a scar peaking out from their collar. A frown grew over her face at the thought that something had happened to the kind woman, but then she shook it off and ushered them inside.

While the power was still out, something she could do nothing about, she had cleaned up the visible first floor and placed candles in more reasonable places than before. “Come in, have a seat where you please.”

Another character, another person, this one seemed less assured than the blonde, but with Desiree adding a term of endearment before her name, it hushed some of her hesitations down.

It had to be real, it had to. So she sat carefully in her usual spot across the table from Desiree and settled to turn the light up a bit more to help this new guest. A friend... of a friend, that was what she said. Was that what they were? It felt foreign to her, but it would be nice if it were real.

Keeping that back, reeling in those suspicions that had clung since the fight, she fiddled with some of the books on the table. Her eyes flicked over the words on each cover before nodding slightly towards where Desiree was unpacking new items. Something metal caught her eye, a small device she knew of. Something she had craved since she had thought she stepped out of the library. It meant more than she could describe to either of the two, and there was no real way for her to put it into words, so again, she kept that back.

"Yes, a friend as well in kind. I am glad to see Desiree has friends to help her. I worry greatly about her roaming around with her condition."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

With Sakura staying close, she was glad for Portia's acceptance of this new intruder. It showed that things were going well, perhaps she might try with Liam next. Another step closer to the final goal, towards an offer that would help this woman find their place in this world.

Aloysius would be pleased, Laurelite would be as well, a first that would look good on her and her musician. Whatever she could do to progress her goals as well as his. Even if she had to pull strings behind the scenes, much as he had for other missions, it tickled her how much they were alike yet so very different.

Smiling as she unpacked the new items, she placed the Zippo lighter down on the table next to some new candles of varying scents. The books she brought this time spoke of organizations, local events, and shops. One more step towards the offer, she intended to nudge into their lap.

She caught that look, even as the stone-faced woman held most of it back. The way they looked at the lighter like an escape rope. It was subtle, but she could tell that there was desperation in that look.

"Yes, Sakura is a lovely friend of mine, and she gets along well with another friend named Liam. He's the other kind man who helps me most often. Always working hard, though, which is why I haven't brought him around. I do believe he might be able to help with any help you might need with things around your home. He's very kind and always helps."

It would be another offering of someone truly kind before the last few introductions; she knew the blonde would be instrumental to winning the woman over, as well as giving insight into things before the last planned meeting.

"She's not as much of a fan of horror stories as my other friend was, though, but how have you been since the weather has decided to clear? I am glad that the storm has passed; whatever Mother Nature was thinking, it was dreadful."

When Sakura brought up friends and family, Portia stilled for a long moment. Those were two things she knew nothing of, even after looking over the books she'd been gifted. In essence, she knew what the concepts were, but she didn't have context in her own existence. At least aside from Desiree, potentially.

Hearing about this, Liam, one who apparently brought light to darker times, she again couldn't comprehend someone like that. But there wasn't any threat, no changes being brought up, so she simply nodded along and looked over things.

When the device was set on the table, she traced her fingers over it for a moment. It would help more than the books when it came to what she wanted to do. The knowledge was good; she needed to learn and adapt if this was real. If it wasn't, it was at least something aside from that encryption that she could think about.

Finally speaking, she focused on something simple.

"They do sound nice, perhaps in the future I can meet them. They sound as reliable as Desiree." Even if she wasn't sure she liked more and more people coming over at the same time, she knew she could handle herself fairly well.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

It seemed like family and friends were a sore spot; she noticed the immediate change over the alien woman. Nothing seemed to be too horrible though, there wasn't an outburst, and Portia hadn't asked them to leave. But the pause was uncomfortable for a moment before the conversation picked back up.

She noticed the lighter now under Portia's hand, being held gently as if it was more important than anything else. While she couldn't know why, she wouldn't question it for now. It just meant the gift was taken well, which was exactly how she wished for things to go.

"Yes of course, he's a great cook as well. Perhaps we could bring dinner over at some point? Something nice and hearty to eat." With a smile, she fiddled with the stacks of books, arranging them neatly on the table.