Jumping from rooftop to rooftop, Aruna landed on the ground gracefully with her skirts cascading down around her as she touched down to land in a crouching position. Standing up, she brushed her skirts down and began walking, keeping an eye out for anything wrong. This time of year, she knew there was more than just youma and negaverse agents out there, things her senses wouldn't pick up on as Chaos, so she watched and listened more carefully, looking over every dark corner she saw as she walked by it. She was so absorbed in watching the corners and alleys that she nearly didn't see the man ahead of her, becoming a bit startled as the vibrantly colored senshi came into view.
Despite being startled by seeing Encke out of nowhere (though really, she had been walking directly towards him without realizing it), she smiled brightly and quickly made her way over to him, heels clicking on the pavement. “Encke!” She raised a hand in greeting as she came up to him, positively delighted to run into him.
Seiana_ZI
Days where Encke wasn't patrolling were few and far between.
He knew he needed to protect his peace, perhaps for his own ability to continue fighting. That didn't mean he pushed that as far as he could, especially since he wasn't entirely certain what his peace looked like. It had been closer to two decades than one. There weren't really any comparators.
The fall season, though, could be especially egregious in Destiny City. Even if this was a day he should've been pulling back, he didn't. Hearing another senshi's voice confirmed why.
“Aruna!” came Encke's bright reply, as they stopped and waited for her to run up to them. “How're you? You look…”
Encke's expression shifted to one of quiet relief. “Brighter.”
Literally.
He knew he needed to protect his peace, perhaps for his own ability to continue fighting. That didn't mean he pushed that as far as he could, especially since he wasn't entirely certain what his peace looked like. It had been closer to two decades than one. There weren't really any comparators.
The fall season, though, could be especially egregious in Destiny City. Even if this was a day he should've been pulling back, he didn't. Hearing another senshi's voice confirmed why.
“Aruna!” came Encke's bright reply, as they stopped and waited for her to run up to them. “How're you? You look…”
Encke's expression shifted to one of quiet relief. “Brighter.”
Literally.
Pale brown eyes lit up as she turned in a circle for Encke to see, the pale green glowing swirls marking from her shoulders to to her legs. “I feel lighter! In many ways.” She looked far more vibrant than the last time they had met. Gone were the dark circles and bags from beneath her eyes, and her skin had a healthy glow to it finally. Despite the difficulties of moving and changing jobs, she truly was thriving.
“It feels…. surreal. The experience was surreal, if I'm being honest. But….the actual transcendence is different for everyone, I'm assuming? Because I highly doubt everyone has a hallucination of having a conversation with themself.” She still wasn't sure what really had happened in that meditation chamber deep within her planet, but whatever it was, she was thankful for it. “I….remember seeing Asmodeus transcend when a bunch of us were assisting on their planet and it was definitely nothing like mine.” She shook her head to dismiss the building thoughts and instead went back to smiling brightly at the older senshi.
“Mind if I join you for your rounds? And….maybe ask some questions about senshi things?” After all, she no longer had the people she once would have gone to for anything and everything. Without Muri to text at any given moment about whatever she might think of, she had a number of questions that had been building up recently.
Seiana_ZI
She did look like she was lighter, and they were glad that also translated into her emotions. Perhaps he knew better than most, the outside did not determine the inside. Aruna looked less tired and less stressed, though. That connection with her planet was really benefiting her.
Good. Maybe she could be one of the examples he could use to encourage others. “Transcendence is pretty individual,” he shifted where he stood, before gesturing for her to follow him. Encke never minded company for patrols. “Mine was about bringing power back to my planet. Basiluzzo’s was about getting back into locked places and clearing sand from stained glass mechanisms. Anser mimicked what her past life self had done to prove herself to her world.”
Those were the easiest ones he knew off the top of his head. Encke had met several transcended people. Their stories were all different, but if their world was happy, the result was the same.
“What questions do you have?” Encke ran his hand through his hair as they walked. “Do know a lot about this s**t considering how long I've been at it.”
Unfortunately.
But this was one more person who the Negaverse could not kill so easily. One more person who would not have their rebirth cycle destroyed.
“For me…..there's a meditation chamber on Aruna, deep beneath the main part of the Necropolis. Aurelia, the previous Aruna, would go there often and always found clarity, so I tried it. It was…..I really have no words to explain what it was like. I found myself face to face with what looked like Aurelia. I'm not sure what magic that chamber has but….it manifests your deepest self, I think. Because after I realized I couldn't be talking to Aurelia, it shifted and suddenly I was talking to myself? But…..it helped me find peace and clarity.” Aruna smiled a little as she spoke, thinking fondly of the chamber. Perhaps one day she would show others, but for now, that chamber felt particularly sacred to her, belonging to her and her alone.
As she spoke, she followed Encke easily, keeping up with his stride despite her short stature. It baffled her how small she was compared to her family (and their partners), but she figured it was most likely her dad's genes that gave her her height (or lack there of) versus her mother's side. Still, it did make walking with any of them quite the challenge at times.
“I know that Transcendence gives more power, and that we get the neat visual effect. But what does it mean beyond that? What should I be aware of?” Because power often came at a price, and after years of finding out the cost of something far too late, she wanted to be prepared before any unsavory side effects or drawbacks presented themselves.
Seiana_ZI
Peace and clarity on her homeworld. That did track with several Transcendence stories he had heard. Something about feeling more like the self, better, more able to stabilize and understand – those all rang true. He had, admittedly, experienced similar.
Suddenly, everything above made sense, and his heart felt more whole than it had before. King Ignatius was happy within, so they were, too.
What else did she need to know? She mentioned more power, which caught his interest. “It does tend to go one of two ways. We either get more magical ability, or were able to share energy. The second one is what I can do, the first one is what Pendour can do, for example – Anser, too.” Encke glanced over to Aruna, slowing down slightly to walk more alongside her. “I assume you got the first one, then?”
Encke paused momentarily, before starting up another set of thoughts. “Youma find us more attractive due to having more energy reserves. Same with the Negaverse in general, I fear, but they can't necessarily kill us anymore. Not via starseed withdrawal, anyway. Faustite and Stillwaterite found that out the hard way with me several years ago.”
… Stillwaterite, who was now Sedna, who had now vanished without a trace -
“And you also need to make sure to keep visiting your homeworld.” Encke's brows knit. “It doesn't necessarily take well to you keeping your distance for long. Something about keeping that connection strong and stable, I suppose. I don't have any numbers on exact timelines, but,” they shrugged, “I have noticed I do feel a bit off if I've been too deep in whatever role I have currently and forget to tend to other parts of my life, too.”
Encke's Comet, of course, was the implication there.
Suddenly, everything above made sense, and his heart felt more whole than it had before. King Ignatius was happy within, so they were, too.
What else did she need to know? She mentioned more power, which caught his interest. “It does tend to go one of two ways. We either get more magical ability, or were able to share energy. The second one is what I can do, the first one is what Pendour can do, for example – Anser, too.” Encke glanced over to Aruna, slowing down slightly to walk more alongside her. “I assume you got the first one, then?”
Encke paused momentarily, before starting up another set of thoughts. “Youma find us more attractive due to having more energy reserves. Same with the Negaverse in general, I fear, but they can't necessarily kill us anymore. Not via starseed withdrawal, anyway. Faustite and Stillwaterite found that out the hard way with me several years ago.”
… Stillwaterite, who was now Sedna, who had now vanished without a trace -
“And you also need to make sure to keep visiting your homeworld.” Encke's brows knit. “It doesn't necessarily take well to you keeping your distance for long. Something about keeping that connection strong and stable, I suppose. I don't have any numbers on exact timelines, but,” they shrugged, “I have noticed I do feel a bit off if I've been too deep in whatever role I have currently and forget to tend to other parts of my life, too.”
Encke's Comet, of course, was the implication there.
Aruna nodded as Encke spoke. “Power boost, yes.” Though part of her almost wished her planet would have graced her with healing, something deep inside knew this was right, that anything else would have been a disservice to Aruna.
The idea of youma finding them more attractive did earn a slight grin. “I mean, we glow. It would be weird if it didn't attract some extra attention, wouldn't it?” She held up her arm to indicate the pale green glowing swirls on her skin. Though the mention of Faustite made the smile falter. Right. “I…..yeah. Faustite even went after Cybele didn't he? He's….tenacious, I'll give him that.” She wasn't sure if the fiery General King had been returned home as of yet, but somehow since it had been quiet, she figured he must have been.
“So it's ….sort of like a magical battery then. And your planet recharges it. That….makes sense actually.” She seemed thoughtful as she walked beside him. “The….more irresponsible part of me wants to test those limits so that anyone who comes after us can have actual numbers. But….I've got two knights I'm trying to set a very good example for, and I already have my hands full with trying to get one of them not to be reckless.” She knew that Blarney would absolutely fuss about it…..and probably do it himself as well should he ever transcend.
“Have….Princesses and stuff also transcended? I've never really gotten a chance to talk with any of them before, and I've only been a senshi for just over a year, so there's still a lot I don't know.” Royal senshi were still something of a mystery to her, and it made her want to know more.
Seiana_ZI
Most of the transcended people he had met ended up being energy sharing types, so it was interesting to see an increased amount of people who had more magic instead. Part of Encke wondered if it was a cosmic response to the fact they seemed to be losing. The other part of him was just glad to see more transcended people either way, without doing that sort of deep dive into it.
Let the science types figure out the science behind it.
“I'm fairly sure I've been referred to as a glowbug, or a lightning bug,” Encke pinched their nose. “We do tend to attract more attention by glowing, but it does make us more of a target too. You cited it with Faustite and Cybele. But be careful.” Personally, Encke believed he couldn't die in any way that was meaningful.
… That didn't necessarily mean he wanted to die.
“No need to challenge anything that doesn't need to be. Better to save our reserves to deal with chaos itself.”
As for the other question, Encke's lips quirked up. “You actually already mentioned an example of that. Cybele transcended after becoming a princess.” Encke, having helped Cybele navigate that journey, was quite familiar with that. Sometimes, screaming at the trees did, eventually, provide the answer.
(The answer was to stop.)
“Ida and Lysithea had already been transcendent, but it's not in any means a preview to anything else.”
Let the science types figure out the science behind it.
“I'm fairly sure I've been referred to as a glowbug, or a lightning bug,” Encke pinched their nose. “We do tend to attract more attention by glowing, but it does make us more of a target too. You cited it with Faustite and Cybele. But be careful.” Personally, Encke believed he couldn't die in any way that was meaningful.
… That didn't necessarily mean he wanted to die.
“No need to challenge anything that doesn't need to be. Better to save our reserves to deal with chaos itself.”
As for the other question, Encke's lips quirked up. “You actually already mentioned an example of that. Cybele transcended after becoming a princess.” Encke, having helped Cybele navigate that journey, was quite familiar with that. Sometimes, screaming at the trees did, eventually, provide the answer.
(The answer was to stop.)
“Ida and Lysithea had already been transcendent, but it's not in any means a preview to anything else.”
“Huh….I would have thought it would have to be beforehand. But I still don't know a whole awful lot about how all of this works. I….do know, however, that having your starseed pulled out of you is terrifying beyond any fear I've ever had……and it's reassuring to know it can't ever happen again to me.” Her hand rubbed at her chest as she thought back to Nagyagite when he took her starseed, her chest aching at the memory.
“About Faustite….” She chewed her lip as she picked the words carefully. “Have you heard anything?” She knew that she needed to come clean, that she should tell Encke about her poor decisions she had been making lately. But part of her was terrified of being outright rejected by the family she had only just found. “Do you…..have any idea what happened to him?” She had promised Albite she would tell him if she learned anything, but so far she had only found dead ends.
Seiana_ZI
She had her starseed pulled? Encke winced. At least she was still alive – and she was right, it could never happen again. Blessing in bright lack of disguise, he supposed.
“They can't pull your starseed again, they can't force corrupt you,” they can't youmaify, “it's one of the only real protections we have for ourselves and our planets.”
Considering she was citing the relief of having her starseed unable to be touched again, Encke wasn’t exactly sure why she would give a s**t about Faustite, specifically. Faustite. Faustite, who definitely had made a habit of pulling starseeds. Who had pulled the starseed of several people close to him. Who had pulled their starseed. That Faustite. Sure. Whatever. He had an answer for her, at least.
“Yeah. Seems like Faustite had a whole thing happen to him at that fight, too. He’s back, just without the fire youma half. And without a fair chunk of his memories.” Encke shrugged. The only relief it came with was, perhaps, Faustite might currently be a lot less of a threat. Encke was still conflicted on if that meant they should get in the way of that threat now, or hope it never came into fruition. “Nectaris and Promethei ran into his newest prospective husband, Hybris? Managed to get some tea out of him.”
… and then Promethei did something Encke considered questionable to make sure that the fact that Nectaris and he definitely just mined Hybris for information perhaps not absorb, but Encke was willing to look the other way.
“They can't pull your starseed again, they can't force corrupt you,” they can't youmaify, “it's one of the only real protections we have for ourselves and our planets.”
Considering she was citing the relief of having her starseed unable to be touched again, Encke wasn’t exactly sure why she would give a s**t about Faustite, specifically. Faustite. Faustite, who definitely had made a habit of pulling starseeds. Who had pulled the starseed of several people close to him. Who had pulled their starseed. That Faustite. Sure. Whatever. He had an answer for her, at least.
“Yeah. Seems like Faustite had a whole thing happen to him at that fight, too. He’s back, just without the fire youma half. And without a fair chunk of his memories.” Encke shrugged. The only relief it came with was, perhaps, Faustite might currently be a lot less of a threat. Encke was still conflicted on if that meant they should get in the way of that threat now, or hope it never came into fruition. “Nectaris and Promethei ran into his newest prospective husband, Hybris? Managed to get some tea out of him.”
… and then Promethei did something Encke considered questionable to make sure that the fact that Nectaris and he definitely just mined Hybris for information perhaps not absorb, but Encke was willing to look the other way.
Aruna had never been good at not showing her emotions. She wore them as plainly as the shoes on her feet, visible as daylight for everyone to easily read. So when Encke told her that Faustite was back with his group, the relief was visible. And she knew it. Which meant she likely should come clean right about now.
Sighing and running her hands through her hair, Aruna chewed her lip. “If…..if I were to say I had done something….. controversial, and knew some not so great things…. Would you rather I tell you or keep it to myself?” Pale brown eyes looked up at the older senshi, anxiously trying to read how that would be received. Faustite had been someone she worried about originally purely because someone she cared about cared for him. But she had done more than just worry. She had done things she knew she would more than just scold Blarney for if he had done.
Seiana_ZI
Encke was probably not as surprised by the expression of relief as Aruna might’ve thought he’d be.
For one, Encke had questioned her motivation for asking him about Faustite from the start. Aruna had always come off as a bit too nice, to a degree; Encke wouldn’t deny having times where he perhaps had seemed too unwilling to put up a fight, but he had never quite swung into the realm of nice unless he had determined it was a good idea. Of course, Pendour was arguably nice as a first approach, and Encke had tied themself quite close to her.
Was Pendour concerned about Faustite in the same way? Encke had never asked, but Pendour was also busy preparing for married life.
For another, Aruna had seemed nervous about Faustite when she had asked in the first place. Encke’s reason for nerves was different than hers, but he had been suspicious they hadn’t come from the same source in the first place.
The only signal that Encke would give to perceive would be a quirked brow.
That was even how his expression remained when she implied that perhaps she should just keep her thoughts to herself. The note of amusement was hard to miss in their voice when they replied, “Bit late to take back that you want to say something after already saying it. What did you do involving Faustite?”
For one, Encke had questioned her motivation for asking him about Faustite from the start. Aruna had always come off as a bit too nice, to a degree; Encke wouldn’t deny having times where he perhaps had seemed too unwilling to put up a fight, but he had never quite swung into the realm of nice unless he had determined it was a good idea. Of course, Pendour was arguably nice as a first approach, and Encke had tied themself quite close to her.
Was Pendour concerned about Faustite in the same way? Encke had never asked, but Pendour was also busy preparing for married life.
For another, Aruna had seemed nervous about Faustite when she had asked in the first place. Encke’s reason for nerves was different than hers, but he had been suspicious they hadn’t come from the same source in the first place.
The only signal that Encke would give to perceive would be a quirked brow.
That was even how his expression remained when she implied that perhaps she should just keep her thoughts to herself. The note of amusement was hard to miss in their voice when they replied, “Bit late to take back that you want to say something after already saying it. What did you do involving Faustite?”
Picking at one of the ruffles of her fuku, Aruna picked her words carefully. “Well, there's what I did, and what I know. I…. For context, at first I only cared about Faustite because he was important to someone who was important to me. But….I went out on a limb, before the fight with the Calamitous Hollow, and entered into sort of an agreement with him to exchange information regarding the creature and impending battle we were facing at the time. We….we went off planet to discuss it, actually. To Aruna. Aside from seeming to have a bad attitude in general, he was surprisingly mellow in contrast to what I had seen last winter.”
Taking a breath, she peered up at Encke before continuing. “We didn't exchange very much information regarding that though, as the battle came before we had the chance. But….when I later heard he was missing, I…well it wasn't that I sought him out specifically, but I ended up meeting one of his husbands. Albite. He's…..” She paused and frowned, trying to think of a nice word. “Peculiar. I've never met anyone quite like him. But after we dealt with a killer monster chicken from hell together, we spoke briefly. I….offered to help find Faustite, to see what happened to him and try to bring him home.” So far, all of the things she spoke of had been, in her mind, fairly harmless. The information she was sitting on, however, might be less so, and it made her chest feel tight.
Seiana_ZI
Aruna hadn’t necessarily said anything that would offend Encke at its base.
Encke knew people had taken Faustite off-world. They also knew that quite a few of those in Order were attempting to extend an olive branch during that calamity, even though the cooperation hadn’t really done them any favours. It was a bit frustrating to hear that people this close in Encke’s sphere had let themselves get that close to Faustite, but they knew Faustite had a way of being … disarming, sometimes.
Pendour had gotten close to Faustite multiple times. It wasn’t unheard of. Encke was relieved Aruna hadn’t also suffered seeing people set aflame near her, but perhaps that was neither here nor there.
“Might’ve just been more mellow in the efforts of cooperation.” Encke shrugged it off. They couldn’t necessarily say the behaviour was surprising. “Just glad you didn’t end up dead for it.”
The follow-up, though, that she had offered to help Albite, earned a bark of a laugh from him. Perhaps, in the end, the concern she had for Faustite had gotten Albite a taste of what he had likely deserved for years. “Oh, Albite found him. Don’t worry about that.”
Well, maybe Hybris had found Albite. Hard to say. Encke didn’t have that entire background, nor did he really care.
“Don’t think that ended up terribly problematic, in any case.”
Encke knew people had taken Faustite off-world. They also knew that quite a few of those in Order were attempting to extend an olive branch during that calamity, even though the cooperation hadn’t really done them any favours. It was a bit frustrating to hear that people this close in Encke’s sphere had let themselves get that close to Faustite, but they knew Faustite had a way of being … disarming, sometimes.
Pendour had gotten close to Faustite multiple times. It wasn’t unheard of. Encke was relieved Aruna hadn’t also suffered seeing people set aflame near her, but perhaps that was neither here nor there.
“Might’ve just been more mellow in the efforts of cooperation.” Encke shrugged it off. They couldn’t necessarily say the behaviour was surprising. “Just glad you didn’t end up dead for it.”
The follow-up, though, that she had offered to help Albite, earned a bark of a laugh from him. Perhaps, in the end, the concern she had for Faustite had gotten Albite a taste of what he had likely deserved for years. “Oh, Albite found him. Don’t worry about that.”
Well, maybe Hybris had found Albite. Hard to say. Encke didn’t have that entire background, nor did he really care.
“Don’t think that ended up terribly problematic, in any case.”
“I'm glad. Albite seemed genuinely distraught and miserable. All I could think of was how I might feel if someone I cared about in that way just …up and vanished. And then I thought about last winter, when one of Faustite's group was taken by some of our lot, and I felt even worse. I mean ….aren't we supposed to be the good guys? Aren't good guys above kidnapping and torture and that sort of thing?” It was the same thing she had said to Keiran almost a year ago, the night after the incident. Even though so much had changed since then, she still felt that it was against her morals and against what standing on the side of “good” should represent.
“And …….speaking of that incident….” Her heart felt heavy and she stared at the ground. “What if….what if I knew something about why Faustite and then showed up so fast …..and why they seemed to know where to go?”
Seiana_ZI
Encke’s lips turned up in a dry amusement. “Well, Albite is lacking an eye now from that whole situation, but he does know where Faustite is, now.”
Did they have any idea if Albite and Faustite were talking now, after that? Not really. There was a part of him that was feeling a bit of schadenfreude from the way the whole situation had played out.
Encke left that aside to discuss other factors.
Their feelings on the kidnapping and torment were complex. As someone who had arguably been kidnapped and tormented themself, it was something he wasn’t really comfortable with. By the same token, they could understand it from the perspective of people desperate to find any sort of information to win. Of course, torture wasn’t a good way to get information, and honestly, leaving him alive for any significant length of time probably made that all worse. “Torture has been proven not to work as an information gathering method, if that was the intention.” Encke’s sigh was so deep it felt like it had aged them fifty years in just that moment. “Kidnapping and hostage taking can potentially come from a space of desperation, which I would argue Order is in.”
They licked their lower lip. “Can’t say I loved the decision, but I think who they chose was probably what caught me the most. One of Faustite’s? That team is united to the core.”
Encke tilted their head. It did seem odd that they had shown up when they did, but to some degree, Encke had been surprised it hadn’t happened even faster. If Aruna knew something about it, Encke was curious, to say the least.
“I’m pretty sure some of his team have some connections to Order. Albite is way too friendly.”
Did they have any idea if Albite and Faustite were talking now, after that? Not really. There was a part of him that was feeling a bit of schadenfreude from the way the whole situation had played out.
Encke left that aside to discuss other factors.
Their feelings on the kidnapping and torment were complex. As someone who had arguably been kidnapped and tormented themself, it was something he wasn’t really comfortable with. By the same token, they could understand it from the perspective of people desperate to find any sort of information to win. Of course, torture wasn’t a good way to get information, and honestly, leaving him alive for any significant length of time probably made that all worse. “Torture has been proven not to work as an information gathering method, if that was the intention.” Encke’s sigh was so deep it felt like it had aged them fifty years in just that moment. “Kidnapping and hostage taking can potentially come from a space of desperation, which I would argue Order is in.”
They licked their lower lip. “Can’t say I loved the decision, but I think who they chose was probably what caught me the most. One of Faustite’s? That team is united to the core.”
Encke tilted their head. It did seem odd that they had shown up when they did, but to some degree, Encke had been surprised it hadn’t happened even faster. If Aruna knew something about it, Encke was curious, to say the least.
“I’m pretty sure some of his team have some connections to Order. Albite is way too friendly.”
Aruna nodded in agreement at torture not working. “I don't know what all you know, or even what all the Bells really know, when it comes to my mom, but I can tell you first hand that you can't get what you want by beating someone into submission. All it does is make the person shut down and retreat into themselves.” She hadn't explicitly told any of them what she had gone through until turning eighteen, though the way she jumped or flinched at the slightest too-fast motion or too-loud noise likely said more than enough.
“Of all the people to piss off, pissing off a General King sounds less than smart to me, too. Especially one known for being so volatile.” She remembered the intensity of the feeling when that group had arrived, and it made her skin crawl just a little at the thought. “There's a difference between desperation and stupidity, but I'd argue it's probably a fine line between them, especially in situations like that.”
The mention of Albite being friendly made her sigh. “Yeah. I'm aware. This fairly new Earth Knight I know seems to think they're actually friends, no matter how much I try to explain that Albite is likely only using him for information or a connection. But….in the case of the information slip, it wasn't him. It was someone who had a connection to Faustite even after purifying.” She looked up at Encke, almost as if asking for permission to continue
Seiana_ZI
And it had, from the sounds of it, done that to both Aruna and to Heliodor. They hadn’t exactly managed to get a lot of information out of him, just confirmation of who he was. Hy-Brasil had a point when she had cited that the time for the high morals was perhaps done with, even if Encke hadn’t agreed with whom they had opted to approach.
Of course, Hy-Brasil also said her source had only even managed to get the information because of who Faustite was. Someone who was powerful enough to convince people to be moles for him–or at least for his husbands, in any case–likely had people powerful enough to be moles against him, too. Or, at least, people powerful enough on Order’s side to spend the resources to figure out how to take him down in more subtle ways.
“A fine line, but perhaps the options were limited.” Encke ran a hand over his hair. Or perhaps the only option. Or perhaps they could’ve just done something else- “I don’t agree with the decision, and I definitely don’t condone it, but I do agree that Order is in a bit of a dire state, and that was pointed out to me. I just wish that had all gone a bit differently.” He also wished they had just used the information to kill Heliodor once it was obvious Heliodor wasn’t going to cooperate, instead of even giving time for a response, but what the hell else were they going to do at this point? If they managed to get information like that again, perhaps it was a lesson for next time.
That lesson included figuring out who not to trust. Were people who recently purified going to be a problem? Was it more specific than that? Were people connected to Faustite purifying going to be a problem?
It was clear to him that Aruna likely knew who had caused the leak. Encke had a feeling he might’ve known who she might’ve been referring to. They weren’t notes he had shared with the overall Order Database, unlike the other notes he had made when he had been sucked into space, but General Aquamarine himself had referred to a recent purification as loose lips. Encke had caught that tea while the agents were busier sniping at each other than dealing with the fact that they were all trapped in space prison. It stood out, and Encke’s brows knit as he combed over the possibility of this being the same.
Considering, it seemed … likely.
His mind was split into another category, too–Nectaris had tied herself to multiple people of Faustite’s team, including Cryolite, who had opted to leave with her, Emain Ablach, and his husbands. Would he become a problem? “So Faustite has Order-side moles then?” Encke pinched the bridge of his nose. “Great. Lovely. Guess I’m gonna have to watch the purification case Nikki recently brought home with her.”
Hopefully, Cryolite’s … Dione’s … new devotion to Nectaris would be an override.
Of course, Hy-Brasil also said her source had only even managed to get the information because of who Faustite was. Someone who was powerful enough to convince people to be moles for him–or at least for his husbands, in any case–likely had people powerful enough to be moles against him, too. Or, at least, people powerful enough on Order’s side to spend the resources to figure out how to take him down in more subtle ways.
“A fine line, but perhaps the options were limited.” Encke ran a hand over his hair. Or perhaps the only option. Or perhaps they could’ve just done something else- “I don’t agree with the decision, and I definitely don’t condone it, but I do agree that Order is in a bit of a dire state, and that was pointed out to me. I just wish that had all gone a bit differently.” He also wished they had just used the information to kill Heliodor once it was obvious Heliodor wasn’t going to cooperate, instead of even giving time for a response, but what the hell else were they going to do at this point? If they managed to get information like that again, perhaps it was a lesson for next time.
That lesson included figuring out who not to trust. Were people who recently purified going to be a problem? Was it more specific than that? Were people connected to Faustite purifying going to be a problem?
It was clear to him that Aruna likely knew who had caused the leak. Encke had a feeling he might’ve known who she might’ve been referring to. They weren’t notes he had shared with the overall Order Database, unlike the other notes he had made when he had been sucked into space, but General Aquamarine himself had referred to a recent purification as loose lips. Encke had caught that tea while the agents were busier sniping at each other than dealing with the fact that they were all trapped in space prison. It stood out, and Encke’s brows knit as he combed over the possibility of this being the same.
Considering, it seemed … likely.
His mind was split into another category, too–Nectaris had tied herself to multiple people of Faustite’s team, including Cryolite, who had opted to leave with her, Emain Ablach, and his husbands. Would he become a problem? “So Faustite has Order-side moles then?” Encke pinched the bridge of his nose. “Great. Lovely. Guess I’m gonna have to watch the purification case Nikki recently brought home with her.”
Hopefully, Cryolite’s … Dione’s … new devotion to Nectaris would be an override.
Aruna shook her head and frowned. “I….wouldn't call him a mole. Just someone with unfortunate emotions regarding Faustite.” Because while he sometimes acted stupidly where Faustite was involved, she knew the man had a good heart. “I would trust him with my life, unless it was a decision between saving myself or saving Faustite. Then it might get dicey.”
Sighing softly, Aruna leaned against a nearby wall as she stared up at the sky. “I won't lie, I would have done the same and tipped them off too, if I knew someone was suffering and could help them. Just because we're in a dire situation, it doesn't mean we should just abandon morals when it suits us. Isn't that part of what differentiates us from them? I never want anyone to suffer, regardless of what side they're on. Grieve says that killing them on sight is a good thing, but…..I just can't bring myself to think like that.” She knew if the alien senshi heard her talking like this, she would get yet another extraordinarily disgusted face from the woman for being so naively sentimental. “There has to be a better way. There has to be.”
Seiana_ZI
Even if it was someone who only acted as a mole to assist one specific person, that was arguably still a mole. Encke bought the defense, but it was an interesting thing to build out along what he had heard Negaverse agents say aloud.
It was noted, along with everything else. He knew of Hy-Brasil’s involvement, knew of Grieve’s now, too. Knew of most everyone else who had been in that building before the arrival of chaos and before the arrival of the Order rescue grouping. Encke also knew that there was a bit more to the story than the idealistic thoughts of their morals being part of what differentiated them. “I can’t pretend I don’t see where Grieve is coming from,” admitted Encke, something he wasn’t sure he would have said as easily even a few years ago. By the same token, even when he was at his deepest in his moral quandaries, he still would settle to kill if necessary.
“But it is a bit more than that. Order is about the restoration of what the universe once was, to a degree, too. All of us used to live on different planets, except for groupings of knights. Chaos disrupted that.” Encke offered a bit of a lop-sided smile in Aruna’s direction. “It’s part of what contributes to the instincts to work separately, to these urges to go in different directions and have different ideas how to handle it. Being able to act in moral ways and remove ourselves from the influence of Chaos does make us different and distinct, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that some of us won’t act in that way without Chaos forcing it. Morals aren’t needed for good or even neutral actions.”
For the bulk of what Encke saw, it stemmed from the same desire to do something good (or at least prevent the worst), but they weren’t monolithic in their approach to that.
“I do think we need more cooperation in general, and maybe finding more ways to win without having to resort to options that will ultimately do things that shoot us in the foot.”
It was noted, along with everything else. He knew of Hy-Brasil’s involvement, knew of Grieve’s now, too. Knew of most everyone else who had been in that building before the arrival of chaos and before the arrival of the Order rescue grouping. Encke also knew that there was a bit more to the story than the idealistic thoughts of their morals being part of what differentiated them. “I can’t pretend I don’t see where Grieve is coming from,” admitted Encke, something he wasn’t sure he would have said as easily even a few years ago. By the same token, even when he was at his deepest in his moral quandaries, he still would settle to kill if necessary.
“But it is a bit more than that. Order is about the restoration of what the universe once was, to a degree, too. All of us used to live on different planets, except for groupings of knights. Chaos disrupted that.” Encke offered a bit of a lop-sided smile in Aruna’s direction. “It’s part of what contributes to the instincts to work separately, to these urges to go in different directions and have different ideas how to handle it. Being able to act in moral ways and remove ourselves from the influence of Chaos does make us different and distinct, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that some of us won’t act in that way without Chaos forcing it. Morals aren’t needed for good or even neutral actions.”
For the bulk of what Encke saw, it stemmed from the same desire to do something good (or at least prevent the worst), but they weren’t monolithic in their approach to that.
“I do think we need more cooperation in general, and maybe finding more ways to win without having to resort to options that will ultimately do things that shoot us in the foot.”
Aruna nodded as she listened to Encke, seeming thoughtful as the older senshi spoke. “I worry that our disorganization and lack of chain of command might end up being our downfall. Has it always been like this? Scattered and disconnected? I've only been a senshi for around a year so I really don't have much to compare to.” It deeply worried her, if she was honest, that everyone seemed to be completely free to do whatever they felt was right without any general oversight or guidance. No superiors to answer to, no chain of command. Just everyone free to make their own calls. It was dangerous, in Aruna's opinion.
“How poorly do you think it would go over if someone called an all-hands meeting or something to try and come to an agreement on how to organize us all? Not that I'm volunteering, but…..but I feel there has to be something to be done? What if the Calamitous Hollow isn't the only one out there? Or what if Chaos somehow launches an attack? If we don't have organization and order, no one definite to look to for orders and guidance, how do we ensure we won't lose? How do we know people won't cross the line of what's right and moral and be just as brutal and ruthless as Chaos?” Her brow knitted as she spoke and she absently rubbed the scar on her arm she had received during the kidnapping fiasco. “After everything I've seen in the last year, it only leaves room for me to wonder just how powerful we could be if we were a unified front. Would we be in this dire of a situation if we had some sort of chain of command and organization?” Somehow it was easy to talk to Encke about this, she found. To give voice to all of the concerns she had built up in the last year. She would have to make a point later to thank them for listening to her and not dismissing her for it all.
Seiana_ZI
“Yes.”
Perhaps she wouldn't appreciate the answer, but there was no point in being dishonest. There were very few times where it had felt like Order held as any sort of united front. Even those that were united had done it in pockets, and sometimes those pockets clashed against other pockets.
It just reinforced to them that Order was never meant to end up in the situation they were in, and the fact that they were spoke of the desperation of the Cauldron. There were no other places for them to end up. So many of those other worlds were barely alive, at best.
Perhaps dead to time forever at worst.
“Chaos has launched attacks before.” Encke's fidgeting increased the more he spoke, tiny twitches in the way he played with his ribbons or wrung his hands. “There was a pretty major one after the Velencians arrived, partially caused by them. There were attacks at celebrations, at parties, at schools – nothing has really driven in the concept of us working together. I think we're all too,” Encke sighed, “dissonant. Different. We all have different ideas on what will work and what won't, and some of us are unwilling to look beyond that to work together to that level. Including because that might require some people who are used to working alone or in a small cluster to defer to someone else.”
They sucked on their bottom lip.
“I don't know. Perhaps a council of some sort? I would not expect total alliance, though. We will still be separated, and I know that. But there have been attempts at that before.” He thought of Celadon, first.
Maybe she had some thoughts.
Perhaps she wouldn't appreciate the answer, but there was no point in being dishonest. There were very few times where it had felt like Order held as any sort of united front. Even those that were united had done it in pockets, and sometimes those pockets clashed against other pockets.
It just reinforced to them that Order was never meant to end up in the situation they were in, and the fact that they were spoke of the desperation of the Cauldron. There were no other places for them to end up. So many of those other worlds were barely alive, at best.
Perhaps dead to time forever at worst.
“Chaos has launched attacks before.” Encke's fidgeting increased the more he spoke, tiny twitches in the way he played with his ribbons or wrung his hands. “There was a pretty major one after the Velencians arrived, partially caused by them. There were attacks at celebrations, at parties, at schools – nothing has really driven in the concept of us working together. I think we're all too,” Encke sighed, “dissonant. Different. We all have different ideas on what will work and what won't, and some of us are unwilling to look beyond that to work together to that level. Including because that might require some people who are used to working alone or in a small cluster to defer to someone else.”
They sucked on their bottom lip.
“I don't know. Perhaps a council of some sort? I would not expect total alliance, though. We will still be separated, and I know that. But there have been attempts at that before.” He thought of Celadon, first.
Maybe she had some thoughts.
Aruna listened patiently. It didn't bode well that their faction had always been in such disarray, and it made her worry more. “I wish I had awakened sooner, been able to help before now, been able to do….well, anything, really. Or at least I wish I'd been aware.” She sighed and ran a hand through her hair, her eyes catching on the glowing marks on her arm. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get all gloomy and bring your night down. But…..I also want to say thank you for being candid about this with me and talking with me about it. Until somewhat recently, I had the guidance of two other eternal senshi who had been at this quite a while. But….I don't see them anymore, so it feels like I've been on my own for a while, without knowing who to really turn to about it.” She missed those two dearly, missed their guidance and friendship, but she also knew that sometimes people weren't meant to stay together, that sometimes people only came into ones life for a moment before making their mark and leaving.
“A council…..that's an idea.” She tilted her head thoughtfully, nodding as Encke mentioned prior attempts. “Yes, a Cybele knight called a meeting a while back, and I attended. Celadon, I believe. I….I might be able to get in contact with her and see if she has thoughts. I just worry, I guess, that if I'm the one making the initiative that I might not be enough to draw people in. Why would people listen to someone who's only been a senshi for a year, when there's so many more qualified people, after all. I'm….also not the best at planning. Or public speaking.” Though she did know someone who was good at both. Two someone's, as luck would have it. Mason and Madeline were both quite charismatic and Mason truly seemed eager to make things better.
“I think if we could at least all get on somewhat of the same page, it might be a start?” She fussed with the edge of her skirt as she thought for a moment. “I'm just….scared I'll mess this up somehow. Or seem wildly incompetent. But…..but I want to make us better. I want us to be able to stand as a united front in any way possible, even if we all have varying goals and allegiances. I never want it to feel as terrifying as it felt before the Herald attacked….” If Aruna was certain of one thing, it was that the terror she felt facing that monstrosity down was something she never wanted to experience again, and that she wanted to spare the ones she loved that terror as well.
Seiana_ZI
Despite the fidgeting and the way Encke’s steps bounced, his tone was even when he replied with, “Yeah, no problem.” Because, to be honest, it wasn’t. Encke would rather the people stuck in this bullshit knew what s**t they were confronting. For his own part, he had been stuck in this for sixteen years. No one had really been there at the beginning to offer him that kind of help because there wasn’t anyone. The Zodiac Court had been arguably as lost as he was. The fact that any of the senshi of the earlier days continued to stand was a testament to their stamina more than much else.
Bravery, perhaps. Foolishness in continuing to fight an unwinnable war, also perhaps.
“Celadon, yes. I think she was the signs of the beginnings of what you suggest wanting to see, and what I think others want to see too, even if it has come with some overall hesitance.” There was enthusiasm at that meeting, but there had also been the fact that several people had issues with the actions some of the group had taken prior. They would need to be more on the same page to be united.
Or, at least, closer.
“Are you asking if I would be the one to take the initiative?” It was a question that was slightly off the cuff, but the implications that she wanted to see it, but she wasn’t the one to do it were interesting. Encke, to be honest, wasn’t sure if he was the one either. He was also tired of the constant losses and the way it felt as if their faction as a whole couldn’t really get a foothold anywhere beyond this city. Was a better collaborative the answer to that? Was forming a council?
It was hard to say. There was a reason why he said he didn’t necessarily expect everyone to be on board, nor would he force them to be. It wouldn’t get them anywhere.
Bravery, perhaps. Foolishness in continuing to fight an unwinnable war, also perhaps.
“Celadon, yes. I think she was the signs of the beginnings of what you suggest wanting to see, and what I think others want to see too, even if it has come with some overall hesitance.” There was enthusiasm at that meeting, but there had also been the fact that several people had issues with the actions some of the group had taken prior. They would need to be more on the same page to be united.
Or, at least, closer.
“Are you asking if I would be the one to take the initiative?” It was a question that was slightly off the cuff, but the implications that she wanted to see it, but she wasn’t the one to do it were interesting. Encke, to be honest, wasn’t sure if he was the one either. He was also tired of the constant losses and the way it felt as if their faction as a whole couldn’t really get a foothold anywhere beyond this city. Was a better collaborative the answer to that? Was forming a council?
It was hard to say. There was a reason why he said he didn’t necessarily expect everyone to be on board, nor would he force them to be. It wouldn’t get them anywhere.
Encke’s question caught her thoroughly off guard and Aruna shook her head, hands coming up to almost wave away the idea. “No! No I mean. If you would want to and offer that's one thing. I'm just incredibly well aware I'm not a leader nor leader material, nor am I good at public speaking.” She ran her hands through her hair and fussed with the ends of the long strands. “I….might know someone who would be better suited for the public speaking aspect, but he's fairly fresh to all of this and I would have the same sorry I would about myself in terms of people not wanting to listen due to lack of experience.”
The idea of reaching out to Celadon was sounding better and better. After all, her princess had even shown up to that meeting. Hard not to listen when a fourth stage senshi was there, in her opinion. But even so, there had been people that still weren't on board with a peaceful approach.
“That being said…..I wouldn't dislike it if you were up to brainstorming ideas with me on how to make this work and who might be a good fit to spearhead it.” She appreciated Encke's experience and would appreciate their guidance on the matter, should it be given. “Like I said, I've only been a senshi for just over a year at this point. While I've seen more than my fill already, I know that I lack the experience and time behind me to be effective in this.”
Sighing softly, she smiled guiltily at Encke. “I promise I wasn't intending to ambush you with all of this. Really. It's…just been weighing on my mind lately and I didn't know who I could talk to about it. Especially when I feel responsible for fairly newly awakened young knights…. I feel like I need to have all the answers and know all of the things, like I can't disappoint or let them down.” She knew Mason would understand if she didn't know something. Madeline however? That girl had a sharp gaze full of judgement, and she didn't feel she could risk even a hint of ineptitude under her eye.
Seiana_ZI
There was a wry smile on Encke's face as Aruna pointed out she wasn't good at public speaking or at being a leader. Encke was hesitant to say he was leader material himself, having mostly played them in films on occasion, but there was another element to that. Just because Encke didn't think he would be leader material didn't mean he couldn't do it.
Hm.
Encke would think about that later.
“I have been a senshi for somewhere around fifteen years, I believe?” Díos– “I would definitely like to see something form, if we could make it happen. I'm not sure how much people would listen to me, but perhaps the fact that I'm alive will hold some weight.”
Somehow.
Again.
Whatever-
“But you're doing a good job already, from the sounds of it. Thinking ahead, trying to find things to tell them and explain to them, figure out why things are the way they are.” Encke shrugged their shoulders, offering a smile that felt more genuine. “Don’t freak out too much.”
Hm.
Encke would think about that later.
“I have been a senshi for somewhere around fifteen years, I believe?” Díos– “I would definitely like to see something form, if we could make it happen. I'm not sure how much people would listen to me, but perhaps the fact that I'm alive will hold some weight.”
Somehow.
Again.
Whatever-
“But you're doing a good job already, from the sounds of it. Thinking ahead, trying to find things to tell them and explain to them, figure out why things are the way they are.” Encke shrugged their shoulders, offering a smile that felt more genuine. “Don’t freak out too much.”
Seiana_ZI
