Welcome to Gaia! ::

This was new, much farther out than she'd ever been. Far from her home, with a leaking roof and no power. It felt surreal, more so than things had been before. This time it was she who was going to the other's home. A show of trust, to go far from where she was used to being.

That storm brewed in her thoughts, the swirling questions about every single thing she saw, about all the people she passed. The looks she'd been given, why hadn't Liam, Sakura, or Alexandre given her the same look? The look like she didn't fit, didn't belong. Was it because of Desiree? The woman who had come from some other country, apparently, but had poor vision, something she had seen to be true and not an illusion.

Gripping the tome tightly, she followed the written instructions and stood before a large iron fence, one that had a symbol she didn't recognize in the center of some sort of seal. Pushing the gate open, she saw the house sprawling over a much larger chunk of land than where she stayed.

It stood tall and silent, much like the library, but this one had lights on and if she looked closely, there were people inside.

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Sitting on the couch, Desiree made sure the last few measures were settled into place. For tonight, Portia would see her as she was and not how she disguised herself. It would be the safest way for them to meet Chalcanthite without any disturbances or any extra risks added. There were enough already, a dangerous game she'd been playing, but she knew it needed to finish soon.

"She's getting closer, Aloysius, it seems she's trusting Liam and me well enough."

Flicking her tail in thought, she stretched out slightly on the couch as she watched her general adjust a few strands of hair and smooth over his uniform. It was a habit, even if she knew nothing was out of place on the meticulous and vain man.

"I'm sure you've sent a report to Laurelite over this, something very important to know." And she knew if something did go wrong, there needed to be contingencies.

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It was a whirlwind of information, with many questions he had been thinking on having finally been answered. If it had been any other mauvian, he might not have approved of things. To bring risk to his home, to his husband, and the few things that had made him whole again, that wasn't something he could stand.

But to have someone tied up all neatly with a bow, an alien senshi with broken magic at that, now it might just be the perfectly set-up gift from his longest companion. So he had done his contingencies, informed the proper channels, and set up things to move fast.

There was no need for the medallion today, not with Desiree hiding his aura. So he stood tall in his uniform and waited in the living room as he watched the front door, waiting for their guest to arrive. Liam was here too, something he was still sore about, given he was the last to know.

"Let us welcome our guest in, right darling? You said she needed our help?"

Reaching for his husband lightly, he knew this was risky, but the reward was very seductive. A first, something he would bring forth to the Queen directly. Desiree would play her games in the shadows and help him progress now that she could.

It brought that icy sparkle to his eyes as the curiosity started to gnaw at him. How alien did this woman actually look? What did her magic do? And why, against all he knew order to be, did she want to cut off her world's connection?

Nothing felt off as Portia climbed the stone steps and stood at the door. The hesitation was eeking out of her as she looked over the old wood with its golden inlay. It wasn’t rotted, not like the one she’d been able to push down to get out.

It felt too real, but by now… she couldn’t trust that. Not without more. The knock came solidly, just once in the quiet night air, before she took a deep breath and waited.

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Desiree saw the form coming up the stairs through one of the panes of glass that surrounded the door, only the one signature and one silhouette. Perfect and expected.

“Not here, I wouldn’t want to have to keep the queen’s signature hidden.” It would be best for that to be dealt with separately as well, once things played out and this meeting happened.

Hopping from the couch, she padded up towards the door beside Liam and watched.

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“Darling, after things happen, everything will move quickly, and some of it you cannot follow. Especially to the Queen’s office, but just as with Ako, this one will be brought back to settle in. More than likely here, considering the place she was in was condemned.”

Something that would make it easy for him to have the place purchased and repaired without too much attention. A fixer upper that matched the style of this woman, according to Desiree.

Keeping a bit back, as to not crowd the door, he watched as his husband started this evening.

Seeing Liam at the door had her settle, if only slightly, before stepping inside. The first thing she noticed was the other man, nearly as tall as she was but dressed so very formally. They felt normal, though, no power coming from them, so perhaps it was just something for their job or hobby. From the books she'd been reading, it wouldn't be odd if they'd just gotten home. But she still wanted to keep an eye on this new individual.

What had her on edge was the fact that Desiree wasn't in sight. But other than that, she followed Liam while looking over the home. There were books and old furniture everywhere, but it looked lived-in and warm compared to her place. It was to be expected, but at the same time, this place was exponentially larger; it seemed to go on and on from the small bit of snooping she could do as she followed them to what must be what a functioning kitchen looked like.

The sound of a meal, of a warm drink, it sounded quaint, and she wanted to accept but stayed cautious as she took a seat and looked around.

"I assume the other man is your husband?" Causally looking over at the taller male before noticing a cat behind them. Staring at it, she noticed the star and then looked between it, the man, and Liam. Something settled into her stomach, a weight that she wasn't sure if she liked or disliked yet.

"A mauvian..." Trailing off as the large cat moved closer to bump against her shin, she reached down and smoothed a hand over their fur. There was the smallest hint of that twisted and unsettling feeling coming off of them, but perhaps... this was the help.

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If Desiree hadn't given him the information about this woman that she had, he was certain he would have been unable to hide his surprise at her appearance. While she looked human, more than some of the others, when it came to not having animal-like features, this woman was by no means normal looking.

Tall was putting it mildly and he inclined his head and followed while allowing for some space and polite conversation to happen between this alien and his husband.

"Yes, I am Liam's husband. He and Desiree let me know that you might need our help. Of course, only if you want our help, none of us would have an issue if you decided against things." Though that in itself was a lie, not with the risk added. This woman would not be leaving the same way that they arrived here this evening. It was a push from Desiree, one he begrudgingly would have to improvise along the way with.

But as he watched her sit down, he took another seat at the table and smiled as Desiree bumped into the woman. It seems that even that information had been left out during the whole process. It might have made him laugh, if that wouldn't potentially startle the obviously on guard alien.

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With things in place, and Portia petting her, Desiree purred and hopped onto the woman's lap before kneading her paws into the thick skirt she was wearing.

Turning carefully in their lap, she bumped her head into Portia's chest before looking up and blinking slowly at them. "We are here to help dearie, tonight and in the future. Including fixing up that home of yours and keeping the annoying and bothersome pests away from you."

Flicking her tail as she felt Portia jolt slightly in surprise, she bumped her head into their hand to coax them into petting her once more and to keep calm.

"Those ones who come to you and bother you when you want peace, we can keep them away, give you a new life where they can't follow. A fresh start, here, not anywhere else." Speaking as sweetly and patiently as ever, she only looked over towards Liam and Chalcanthite for the shortest of moments.

This was her little project more than theirs but she knew her offer had to come first before the details.

When Liam trailed their hand up his arm, Chalcanthite leaned his head into them slightly for a quick moment before turning his attention to Portia. "Yes though in order to help you better this evening, Chalcanthite is the proper name, I will assume, for this."

Folding his hands on the table, looking at the senshi and his mauvian, he smiled softly. "What they both say is true, you can stay here for now while we have your home fixed up properly. No need to worry about being trapped here, you can come and go with any of us. I would be fine with you heading out on your own, but with how far out we are, I would want to avoid you getting lost or tired."

It was risky, all of this was, but he knew in a pinch he could pull the woman from here to Laurelite faster than they could react. He'd made sure to sleep well enough so it wouldn't tire him out; that and if he could play a part in the process, then he needed to be at his best.

"Yes, Desiree is a mauvian, one who has been with me most of my life and is very dear to us." Even if her awakening as one was just a small part of the total time she'd been with him.

"We can offer that fresh start, a new name, a new place to live, and a way to cut ties to those who bother you." He stretched his hand slightly towards them; he was confident in this pitch, in this meeting. His attention was only momentarily disrupted as he offered a response to his husband.

"London fog, with creme and sugar, please, darling."

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Hearing her friend's name, she looked down at the mauvian and had a moment of pause. It nagged at her that she hadn't known but... as the mention of cutting ties came up, she felt focused on that outstretched hand. It was a risk to trust them but Desiree had done nothing aside from help her and offer company, company that she had sorely needed, without the rampant obsession of the others with how they wanted to save what was already dead and gone. Fate was fate, time could not be rewound even if she wanted it to be. But what they were saying, if she could cut the tie and leave it behind. Could the rows and rows of books that haunted her fade?

Petting Desiree, she closed her eyes for a moment. That cursed code was imprinted even in the dark space behind her eyelids. Desiree had tried to find a solution, but nothing had come forward yet. The fact that someone had tried to help was proof enough for her.

Looking towards Liam, she was surprised to hear about the rundown home she was in being able to become a more permanent place for her. If the pests were gone and things were working properly, then she could do as she pleased for once. There were so many books she wanted to look over, so many things she needed to learn about this place. But there was never the time or the proper lighting under the conditions as they were.

"A new name... and how would I be sure the pests wouldn't come back and recognize me? What does this help entail?" Scrutinizing both Aloysius and Desiree, she wasn't as tense but she was still unsure if this was real or not. It could all be some fantasy he mind made up, though the more people involved with information she herself didn't know was making that more unlikely.

For now, she ignored the mention of tea, it wasn't if she knew what any of the types were, but the food was real, there was no way for her to have come up with the flavours that came from each bite. If this was a trap, a last meal before an execution, she could at least enjoy it and be assured she wouldn't die in that library.

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Content with how civil things were going, Desiree purred. "Ye,s dearie, it's me, though I had not intended to trick you. I prefer going out as one of the humans, I learn so many things from that perspective, even if I am a bit unable to handle myself at times."

Kneading lightly, she was glad to see the woman eating something of substance; she was sure they hadn't had a warm meal on this planet yet. It was a shame but things would change.

"Yes, we have someone who Aloysius can bring you to who can cut that tie. You would no longer go to that place among the stars; your home would be here on Earth. With that, the magic that protects us all makes sure nobody who knew of you before would recognize you. In addition, I will, of course, make sure that we shoo away any pests while your beautiful home gets the attention it needs."

Pressing her head against Portia's chest, she purred slightly louder at the thought that things would be changing. "The process may be a bit rough, but the rewards are far worth it. We can work on looking into all sorts of new things to research and read. I can show you around as well. Much as I made that pen for you, I can make a charm that helps disguise you as well, so you need not go out like this at all times."

Looking up at Liam she laughed slightly. "Portia has yet to have tea, bring something light for her, we wouldn't want to have her first cup be bitter."

Before her musician would pipe up, Desiree was quick to respond. "Our Queen, you saw her on the field against that monster if you were there, can help sever the tie with your world. It is jarring, but you will be free of it. Those problems that may plague you can be mended with her power. The useless things will be cut off; no need for them to cling and strain you more."

It would be difficult, but how difficult she was unsure of, considering this was a novel situation. "Nothing else will change between us. I will continue to help you, and more people will be able to get you settled in so that you can explore as you wish and do as you please."

With a final boop of her head into their chest, she settled back down into a loaf on the woman's lap. "None of us likes seeing someone stuck, we want to help and I know it would be lovely to learn more from you without you having to worry about us believing your stories are false."

It had been obvious how the woman skirted around things when speaking with Sakura or Alexandre, it would be easier to be frank from now on.

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Another moment of shock at the mention of being frank and transparent. It did bring a small smile to her face, though. Again, the thought of being free drowned out the growing concern when the mention of that sickening force of power was brought up.

The source of it hadn't been known to her, at least not then, but now she was going to be potentially meeting up with them. Though the man was taking their tea now, she looked down at the hand he had still rested on the table in front of her in offering. As if everything was just that small gap of distance away.

Chaos

That was certainly something she hadn't exactly been able to put a word to. It must be the way others felt, but if she couldn't pick up anything from Aloysius, then it must be due to Desiree, either for her comfort or to keep others from noticing. It was a smart choice, something she wondered if might keep pests from drawing closer to her home.

After sipping the drink called tea, finding it light and floral, she nodded and set the cup down before thanking Liam for it. The next motion was confident and smooth, with her taking the other man's hand and noticing the ring on it. Ah, it was beautiful just as this man was.

"I accept your proposal. Though I don't know much about how homes are made here, I appreciate being able to have it made as I want. Can this be done soon? I want nothing more than not to be Portia anymore."

A moment of truth, if this illusion would shatter, or if something would change in the stagnancy she had been trapped in. Internally, her mind raced over every detail, every word she'd read, and every scrap of information she'd gathered while on this planet.

It didn't carry over to her face; she was good when it came to that, but she found herself tapping her foot lightly under the table nervously. It was a moment where everything could change and sitting here in the in between was more uncomfortable than she'd like to admit. Even petting Desiree wasn't quite helping but she wouldn't bring that up.

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The tea was perfect as always, and he drained his cup carefully as the senshi thought things over. It was an interesting situation, a first of its kind, and he was giddy over the possibilities and paths forward that could come from this.

A cool smile reached his eyes as he let them grab his hand. The woman's long nails were certainly frightening, but otherwise her grasp on him was filled with a nervous energy that he couldn't deny was contagious.

"No need for Portia, we can find a better name for you." Giving Liam a look, one that he'd spoken with them ahead of time over, he set the teacup down and wrapped his other hand around the one gripping his. This wasn't just nervousness; this was instability. He knew what it looked like, knew the internal war between reality and the falsehood that he'd been trapped in by guilt and alcohol.

If that would end up affecting the process, he would have liked to have more time before this meeting, but with Laurelite involved, there was that added level of power and control. When it came to her and Metallia, he never doubted their abilities. Especially with how he'd had her hand in his chest before.

"We can go now and then return here for dessert. I make lovely pastries, and my darling is very good at playing host." Smiling, he focused his will on him, this senshi, and his mauvian as they were all sitting there. It would be quick, before they could react, and then with a blown kiss to his husband, the trio was gone.