|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 7:03 am
Sessrumnir’s warning was probably meant for the others. Dering didn’t make a habit of talking to the Negaverse, and if he did he was good at keeping secrets anyway. He spent very little time with Sessrumnir, and maybe couldn’t even pronounce his name, anyway. He didn’t know who Empyrean was, but Amarynthos and Alastor clearly did. He saw it in the way their expressions shifted, in how they looked at Sessrumnir with emotions he recognized but couldn’t name.
But there were some things Dering could piece together even without the full picture. Amarynthos and Alastor cared deeply for Sessrumnir. Maybe they knew Empyrean, too. Empyrean was obviously someone important to Sessrumnir. Jet had killed him.
Dering didn’t really need to know more than that. Sessrumnir wasn’t speaking to him, anyway. Reims wasn’t, either; he already knew about the Negaverse trying to recruit him. He had nothing to add, so he stayed perfectly still and perfectly quiet. He ignored the warmth in his wrist, and listened.
He didn’t know much about Ganymede, but he knew she was a princess.
Jet must have been terrifying to subdue her. He was glad Reims hadn’t been around when Jet showed up. Not just because Reims would have certainly picked a fight, and might have gotten hurt, but maybe Jet wouldn’t have been as kind to a Knight of Ganymede as he was to a Knight of Lysithea.
Dering should appreciate his luck more, so he did, and made himself simmer in gratitude.
Amarynthos resisted the urge to blow Lucien’s fur out of his face, in part because it was a welcome comfort, and because he knew Ephesus would appreciate whatever comfort he could get. Amarynthos wanted to bathe him in affection, more than just what he could give. He pressed his forehead to Ephesus’ in comfortable silence.
Alastor continued to smooth circles over Ephesus’ back but he reached a hand for Sessrumnir. “We should move, then. If we don’t want to risk any unwanted attention.”
It was the logical choice, to head in for the night. Though it was unsettling that a General King was prowling, at least he seemed amenable. As long as someone could serve a purpose.
He didn’t want to put the teenagers at risk, especially if they’d already been targeted. Alastor looked at Reims and nodded, because he heard him and respected that Reims had withstood the pressure of the Negaverse. Although, he kept his thoughts on chibi senshi to himself, but it wasn’t like even that was bad enough to tip the scales in the Negaverse’s favor.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 7:03 am
Ephesus had never met Empyrean, but from what he’d been told of the man who would have been his grandfather, he was a good man. Maybe too good. His kindness was exploited and now his absence left an unhealing wound in the hearts of many.
He didn’t mind the brush of Lucien’s tail against his face, but even though his lips twitched at the corners, he didn’t feel like smiling. He didn’t like that his body was so quick to react. If it wasn’t one emotion betraying him, it was another.
Although he didn’t turn away from the soft fur, he did press his face closer to Amarynthos’ neck so he could squeeze his eyes shut without anyone seeing. He appreciated the gentle attention Alastor was giving him as well, although he didn’t know if he could be pried from Amarynthos’ arms for the rest of the night.
Dering could hide. Reims would make sure it was possible for him to stay out of sight. Out of mind. He didn’t have to exist if he didn’t want to. Reims would protect his delicate existence until he was ready to face the cruel world once more.
He lowered his head just enough to press his cheek against Dering’s hair. He knew Dering had been holding onto his lute this whole time, and while he knew it was probably uncomfortable, Reims could only assume Dering wanted it that way. He might not agree with Dering essentially punishing himself, but he understood. He’d been there, too. Sometimes he was still there. Being told to let the lute go-- that he didn’t have to suffer -- it might only make things worse.
Reims was already planning on getting an ice pack for his wrist, whether he wanted to talk about it or not.
“Yeah, we’ll head out,” he nodded in the direction of where they lived, although it wasn’t anywhere close. He wanted to get Dering settled as soon as possible. “Let me know if you need anything.”
It wasn’t that he was ignoring Sessrumnir, but it wasn’t as though they hung out often. Just when they needed backup like this. Either way, he shrugged to let him know he’d heard.
Sessrumnir glanced up at Alastor when he felt his hand taking his and gave him a little nod to let him know he was okay. As okay as he could be, at least. He would stew in worry and self doubt later, but for now, getting the teens home was the most important thing to do.
“Alright. I’ll go with Reims and Dering. I’ll see you back home?” he asked Alastor and the boys, ignoring the way Reims clicked his tongue and made a noise of disapproval.
“I shall escort them,” Lucien spoke, stretching from where he was on Alastor’s shoulder, and making an elegant leap from Alastor’s shoulder to Reims, who got a face full of tail fur for the growl he made.
“I want to meet Soleiyu to discuss the shield blueprints. I will mask them. They will be fine,” he promised, climbing from Reims’ shoulder to settle fully in Dering’s lap. He stretched out his arms and flexed his claws, but made sure they didn’t snag on anything.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 7:04 am
There was no argument from Alastor, who only nodded when everyone was settling on who was going where. “Just be safe,” he insisted. “Send a message when you get there. Or else I’ll be out looking for you.”
Amarynthos had little more to say right now; he was looking forward to a bit of quiet, not for himself but for Ephesus. It wasn’t easy being around a lot of people, and he felt electricity dancing across his skin–and he liked being around people. He could only imagine how overwhelmed Ephesus must feel right now.
He was looking forward to curling up in bed with him. He turned his head enough to see Reims without displacing Ephesus. “Text,” he insisted. “I’ll send you a message when we get in, too.”
He knew Reims was tough. But he knew Reims worried, too. Even if he was bad at showing it. They were a team and they were better off looking after each other.
Dering’s mouth had opened to insist that Reims could put him down now, in part because he really didn’t want Sessrumnir to get the wrong idea about this. Dering hadn’t been hurt and certainly wasn’t worth worrying about.
He didn’t have the chance to protest; Lucien, already looking comfortable, had flopped across his lap and half his stomach before the words even made it to Dering’s tongue.
The words fell soft on Dering’s tongue and he sealed his lips instead. He was tense beneath Lucien, but forced his muscles to relax. Stone made for a poor bed. He didn’t want to make this any harder on Reims, either; he tried to be easy in his arms.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 7:04 am
Reims made a face as Lucien made himself comfortable on Dering. Not because he couldn’t carry an extra twenty to thirty pounds or however much Lucien weighed, the giant that he was, but because he didn’t want Dering to be uncomfortable.
“Yeah,” he huffed in agreement when Amarynthos caught his eye. He knew they would be okay. At least until the world ended.
Lucien’s tail swished as he got more comfortable, stretching up against Dering’s chest and bumping his head against the Knight’s chin, before settling down. He didn’t suggest Dering power down so he wouldn’t have to carry his lute, even though Lucien was confident in being able to keep them safe.
But he did pause to nod once more to Alastor to let him know they would be as safe as possible. “Given the distance of our destination, and how quickly a Knight can walk, I will be sending you a message in the next ten minutes,” Lucien promised.
Ephesus looked like he was already content to not move, so Sessrumnir didn’t disturb him. He just gave Alastor’s hand a squeeze to reassure him that things would be okay. They would make sure it was.
Fin!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
