|
Post by Usagi_Tsukino_Kagetsu on Dec 3, 2014 23:01:23 GMT -5
Zoisite’s fingertips brushed over the rough spines of his dear friends, books. The floor-length windows of the royal libraries gave him a spectacular view of the sun rising that morning. It filled the canvas that was the skies with vibrant oranges and gentle purples. As his gaze wandered over the moment, he wondered if people on the Moon even knew the sun. He wondered if they even understood what warmth felt like. He had heard many things about the moon. They were all stories and potential happenstance from fellow warriors, but he never questioned their tales.
As he continued to comb through volumes of literature, he realized this was his first endeavor of actually caring at all about the distant planet that illuminated the evening skies. He frowned, continuing a thus far unsuccessful deep dive into trusted resources as some form of preparation for the evening. Although Kunzite was calm with a play-by-ear approach, that simply wasn’t Zoisite’s style. He liked to be prepared, strategic, and calculated.
“How do we not have anything!” He hissed quietly. Truly, they were adventuring into the unknown. It was like a wild animal, pulling a large carriage. The night was barreling toward them fiercely, and no matter what he did or thought, he would be unable to stop it.
“Rather than being so rigid and studious, let’s hunt.” Jadeite said cooly from the lower level of the library.
“Hm. Jadeite.” Zoisite mused, continuing to riffle through different sections of text. “I honestly didn’t think you knew this place existed. It’s not like you read.” He scoffed, plucking a book from its resting place and flicking through the pages before he quickly snapped it shut and moved to the next.
“And, you usually go hunting with Kunzite.” Zoisite added with some level of curiousity.
“Honestly, I’d rather leave Kunzite out of this trip.” Jadeite said shortly.
“Bitter about his secret keeping?” Zoisite frowned, moving away from the many books to give more attention to his fellow general.
Jadeite shrugged. “Perhaps something like that.” He paused. “I mean, I get why he has secrets, we all do. I just feel like this was a large thing to keep from all of us. It makes me wonder what else he could possibly be holding onto.” He admitted.
“That’s fair. But, you’re going to have to let it pass. Tonight, we’re all going to have to rely and trust on each other to keep our heads.” He warned. “And, what about letting Nephrite tag along. That would really send your message to our dear leader, loud and clear.” Zoisite mused.
“I know. I know.” Jadeite waved a hand dismissively. “And, Nephrite is probably still sleeping soundly – beauty rest and all.” He brought his hands about his face, brushing a hand through his hair dramatically to imitate the other man. “Bring him if you must. I’ll ready the horses and materials.” He said, bowing and retreating from the uncomfortable silence of the library and onto the stables. He needed to be outside, in the fresh air. He wanted to enjoy this day on Earth, unsure of what life could possibly bring within the next 24 hours.
Zoisite found himself in front of Nephrite’s bed chambers. He was so lost in his own thoughts how he got there and the path he took was unknown. His knuckles pounded against the heavy door. “Nephrite, Jadeite and I are going hunting. You know, kill or be killed.” He grinned, referencing the dire potential of how this evening would turn out. “Come with us,” he urged. Yet, a part of him was still unsure whether Nephrite was even in his room at that hour. Although not as sharp as Jadeite with a drink in his hand, his other general could be quite vicarious and adventurous.
“Nephrite, come on. Answer or let me be done with this unnecessarily stressful day.” He frowned impatiently. He turned to his side and leaned against the nearby wall, waiting for a response.
[Tag Generals and Endymion]
|
|
|
Post by Prince_Endymion on Dec 4, 2014 20:58:08 GMT -5
Sleep had come all too easily to the mahogany haired general, perhaps partially due to the heavy handed pouring of his alcohol the night before. Or maybe the stress of Endymion’s breakdown and Kunzite’s terrible plan had taken it out of him. Regardless, Nephrite was sprawled across his bed, still sound asleep as the sun made it’s ascent into the morning sky. Kunzite and Endymion seemed to relish the glory of the morning, happily up before dawn on a regular basis. They were more than welcome to keep such nonsense to themselves while he savored in the few stolen minutes of sleep. A series of loud thuds drew him to consciousness. Groaning dramatically at the sound of Zoisite’s voice, he grumbled only half awake. “…Hmhmmm sure…”
Slowly opening one eye and then the other; realizing that if Jadiete and Zoisite wanted him awake, then he would receive no further silence from them. Such was the life of four men whose entire lives were so carefully drawn together. They existed as a unit and the rest of the unit seemed to adore the early hours of the day. Nephrite begrudgingly pushed himself from the bed and slinked to the door, opening it to glare at Zoisite as he leaned against the doorframe. “Fine. I’ll go. But do we have to go so dammed early?”
Allowing Zoisite into his bed chamber while he briskly washed his face and dressed for hunting he came out and folded his arms across his chest. Now with the glory of sleep long behind him, he was alert and fully aware of the minor mutiny they were about to stage. “So, I’m guessing Kunzite’s not invited? Nor Endymion?” Shrugging, he motioned for them to head out of the palace. “I’m in. We need a few minutes away from our resident Moon Fanatics…”
|
|
|
Post by Usagi_Tsukino_Kagetsu on Dec 5, 2014 16:08:43 GMT -5
“Oh!” Zoisite poked the man, gazing back at him with an equal level of annoyance. “You’ve had plenty of sleep.” He jeered. “Anyways, I am not the one who is dragging you out of bed.” He paused a moment, rethinking his words. “Well, I did. But, this is Jadeite’s adventure.” He warned. “I was spending my morning in piece, with a new literature collection that was transcribed just a few days ago.” He mused.
His expression grew stale and neutral as he continued on. “Jadeite seems a bit put off by Kunzite’s actions.” He frowned, crossing his arms. “I guess we all are.” He admitted, bringing his hands to the side of his neck, hands tugged in opposite directions to tighten the ribbon that held his hair in a simple ponytail.
In no time they were outside the caged walls of the palace and out in the open air. The bright blue sky greeted them, the wind enveloped their bodies with its brisk touch, and the nature continued to develop the scene with their unique movements and noises.
Zoisite sucked in a careful breath, shaking his head. “Why would Endymion ever want to leave this place?” He questioned as they neared the stables.
“No woman can compete with such freedom and space.” He said flatly, motioning to Jadeite. “I’ve brought him as requested. Can we get on with this?” He hissed. “You are such a slow packer.” He added, rolling his eyes to the sight of Jadeite throwing supply bags over the back side of his horse’s saddle.
Jadeite poked his head over the backside of his horse, letting out a mild chuckle. “Hm? I’m packed. I didn’t pack anything for you all – unless you count weapons.” He grinned. “I like snacks while I hunt.”
“Did you sleep well, Nephrite?” He questioned. “I thought we should enjoy the outdoors, since it could very well be the last time we see them.” He mused with an uncomfortable humph.
[Tag Generals, Endymion]
|
|
|
Post by Prince_Endymion on Dec 5, 2014 23:21:47 GMT -5
The Prince of Earth had easily succumbed to a halfway restful night of sleep. However, he found his subconscious was haunted by the memory of being unarmed, unable to protect a fair maiden. It felt so unlike him. Always renowned for his preparedness and his ability to think on his feet; this was a new and disturbing feeling. The lack of control he’d experienced, when his best and only option had been to allow himself to be mauled by a bear. Yet, were he given the exact same set of circumstances again, he'd hope only that he’d have stashed a knife somewhere on his person. Otherwise, he would do nothing differently. He’d chase Serenity through the crowd once again to seek out the woman in the pink hat and wade in the water.
In his dream, he could feel her in his arms again, sense the warmth of her breath upon his neck, and experience the connection to her all over again. Beyond all of that, there was that sensation that continued to torment him, that lingering desire to see her once again. A mere few minutes before the sun began to trickle in his window, he found himself awake, alert and ready to embrace all the adventure that today would surely hold. Morning routines were completed with great haste and Endymion strolled out of his bedchamber just as the sun rose into the sky. As he moved through the hallways, he admired the way the sun splashed hues of gold and red on walls as though he needed more reason to embrace this day. Today he wore a blue button-up shirt, not quite fastened all the way to his neck with a charcoal jacket layered over it as well as dark slacks and boots. It was obvious to all who greeted their Prince that he was on mission, which was quite true. He made his way towards the formal meeting chambers of the King and his Council. Before the Generals and he set off for the Moon, he wanted to research their culture; to give them every advantage to fit in, assimilate to their ways.
The task was simple enough. He would track down Lady Beryl of the Earth Court. She’d been so encouraging at the Spar Match just the day before, and had offered up texts on other kingdoms if he were ever interested. He was interested. Had one encounter truly been enough to shape his perspective in this way? The answer was painfully clear.
After poking about in a few of the rooms in this wing of the Earth Palace, he had encountered a couple members of the King’s Council, however, not Lady Beryl. In one of the lesser libraries, he approached one of the men and coughed subtly to garner his attention. Once the man glanced up, he bowed his head respectfully. “Good Morning, Good Sir. Might you know where I could find Lady Beryl this morning?” The gentleman glanced up, looking to Endymion twice to ensure it was truly him before he backed up and bowed deeply. The necessary formality caused a restrained grimace to cross his expression.
“Your Highness! Good Morning, Prince Endymion! Why Lady Beryl is in a meeting with the Council at this hour, but they should be finishing at any moment now.” He gestured towards one of the closed doors, indicating the room where the meeting was taking place. “Right over there…”
Endymion nodded and offered a thin smile, “Thank you very much, Sir. You’ve been a great help. Good day.” Bowing slightly, he strolled over towards the closed door. Certainly he was allowed to enter a meeting, but if there was one thing he was happy to avoid, it was talking about the hundreds of things that he needed to do to become King. Leaning up against the wall across from the room, his right foot rested up against the wall as he settled down to wait for Lady Beryl here.
Arms folded across his broad chest as he suddenly began to lose himself in all the thoughts that coursed through his mind. Was he crazy? Had it been fate for him to meet the one person in the Universe who saw him as Endymion? For being so desperate to see her again, for be willing to throw caution to the wind and seek her out on the Moon? How selfish was he being in forcing Kunzite’s hand? Was it terrible for him to force his friends into this? The answers that immediately came to him were: Yes. Probably. Beyond mad. Very and Yes. He snickered ruefully to himself, unsure of what he could do differently in these circumstances. He had to find her tonight. He would find her. Perhaps he could just spend the next year trying to make it up to the Generals and they’d forgive him. They served him first and foremost, but they were also friends and he didn’t like knowing that his behavior had upset them.
The sound of a door opening and the chatter of Council members drew him from the treacherous stream of consciousness. Picking his head up, he pushed off the wall and approached Lady Beryl as she exited the room. The others who were talking with her immediately ended their conversations, uttered pleasant words of respect towards him and left the area with great haste.
“Lady Beryl…” He felt as though he sounded terribly awkward, trying to figure out the least peculiar way to ask for Moon texts. For he was fairly certain that ‘chasing down a Moon Denizen at a Moon Ball’ was probably a bad direction to start in. “I apologize for seeking you out so early this morning, especially when I’m sure you have a great deal of work to do.” A slight smirk pulled at his lips, “At the Spar Match you’d mentioned having access to texts on various Kingdoms throughout the Universe?” Shrugging, as though it was an errant request, something he was merely curious about he continued, “Do you perhaps have any texts about... the Moon?” His gaze watched her face carefully, eyebrows raised in curiosity, hoping that she remained clueless as to the true nature of his request.
[Tag: Beryl]
|
|
|
Post by Usagi_Tsukino_Kagetsu on Dec 6, 2014 19:36:55 GMT -5
Beryl ran a hand over the sleeve of her emerald green dress, tugging the material down about her wrist and evening out a few bumps as she spoke to one of her fellow advisors in hushed tones. The man seemed to rush his statements and his eyes motioned to the side.
Her gaze narrowed, sweeping away from the man with some level of confusion, even annoyance. But it softened as she saw the Prince rushing toward them. He seemed so full of live and energy.
Perplexing. Her breath caught in her throat. Endymion had never sought her out before. Perhaps he was finally seeing her now.
An uneasy and excited warmth trickled through her body as he neared. She waved a hand to her fellow advisor dismissively, unable to tear her gaze away from Endymion’s sapphire eyes. “Your Highness.” She said, her surprise of seeing him at such an hour and so randomly was clear in her tone.
She bowed her head in respect. For a brief moment, her eyes tore from Endymion’s gaze, narrowing harshly at another advisor who left late from the meeting space. “Sorry if I seem flustered. These Council meeting are… long and tedious.” She sighed, choosing her words carefully.
She took another step toward him, leaning her head forward as she rose a hand to halt his words. “Never apologize for seeking me out, Endymion.” She said gently. “I’m always so happy to help you any way that I can.” She smiled. “In fact, I’m quite glad to see you in one piece.” She admitted.
She rose a brow, tilting her head to the side as she continued: “It’s always hard to differentiate truth from gossip and fiction. But, I heard you had quite the adventure after you victory at the spar match.” She grinned. “You don’t need to tell me anything about it.” She said pointedly. “You deserve your privacy, Endymion. I can’t imagine what you feel, knowing an entire Kingdom is always watching.” She added.
She blinked at his request for a moment. “Out of all the planets in this universe.” She chuckled, shaking her head. “You make no easy request, do you?” She questioned, some curiosity in her tone. “Unfortunately, we have not received any texts from the Moon yet. But, we only recently made a request for them.” She clarified. “I didn’t think you’d get back to me so quickly on that.”
She looked around, remembering how they were in a rather heavy traffic area of the Palace. Again, she moved closer, her face leaned near to his. She began again in a hushed whisper. “Would you walk with me, your Highness?” She questioned. “I take no issue with you asking about the Moon, but others in the Palace would be concerned with such interests.”
His eyes said everything she needed to know. She turned away from him and began walking. She spoke softly, her gaze remained on the path ahead. “The Moon Kingdom has always kept itself distant. I mean, you know the laws. Even though it’s an Earth ally, the Moon Kingdom is quite different from our own.” She shrugged. She tapped her fingertips to her lower lip fiercely, pondering how best to continue.
“People from the Moon outwardly seem just like us. We speak the same language. They look rather human.” She paused.
“But, their lifespans far exceed ours. We believe it all stems from a powerful crystal—the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou. It yields an incredible amount of power. Although its true potential is unknown, what little texts we do have suggest those of the Moon’s Royal Family have the power to destroy an entire planet at their fingertips through that crystal.” She said carefully.
“It’s all quite mysterious really. The Royal Family has a Queen and Princess, but no King. Some say the Queen is a reincarnation of a Goddess—because of the unique lifespans of the planet’s residents and the power of the Royal Family members.” She added. She blushed slightly as she realized she was rambling. She hadn’t even asked what he was looking for specifically.
“Very few people have actually ever interacted with residents from the Moon, obviously. So, who knows how much of what I’ve heard over time is even true.” She added.
“…Was that helpful?” She questioned, tilting her head to the side. Her eyes looked as if she were so hopeful to please him. “Of course, if we do get any texts from the Moon, I’ll have them delivered to you straight away.” She promised.
[Tag Endymion]
|
|
|
Post by General Kunzite on Dec 7, 2014 11:03:27 GMT -5
After yesterday’s stressful domino effect of misfortunate coincidences, Kunzite awoke with a clear mind. He had been too busy yesterday just reacting to things as they came, but now he saw them as a clear contest in which he was in control. The journey to the Moon was one he had never dreamed of making; but now that the gauntlet had been thrown, Kunzite had decided to make the most out of the situation. The information they could glean from the social structures and attitudes of the moonfolk. It could be an invaluable experience if they played their cards right. Kunzite had not experienced such a thrill of anxious expectation since he achieved his role as Commander General under Endymion.
As such, he arose early and immediately went to work with clearing his court responsibilities and laying as many safety nets as he could. Not that there were many. If worst came to worst, the Court would simply never know what happened to five of the most powerful men in the Kingdom. Kunzite guarded the secret of the Moon’s earth investment carefully for several reasons. As one of the few who were allowed to know, his safety was tied to keeping it a secret. And as much as he hated to admit it, revealing that information would serve no purpose in the large picture. If the common people knew, they might revolt or go on a witch hunt. If the Court nobles knew, it would lead to similar discord or power grabs. Chaos and anarchy could easily follow. Kunzite was fairly sure not even the King knew this secret…all in the interest of the status quo. Instead, being able to write a narrative of court life on the Moon might steal away the mystique and get them one generation closer to tearing down the wall. And even if many considered it a madman’s ramblings, the wise would be able to siphon out the necessary keys for the future. All in due time.
He received a letter that morning along with a package of dried berries. It was from Captain Andrew, who used the berries as a cover for their correspondence. It read:
General Kunzite,
You have put me through a hell of a time. I couldn’t let you just bumble your way around distant lands and get yourself, and everyone else, killed. I spent the night making extensive inquiries for you. I even got the native tailors the measurements of you and your companions so that you will have a better chance of fitting in. It wasn’t easy. I delivered a request for a book from the natives by one of your Court, a Lady Beryl, and I don’t think it is being well received. Be careful dammit. If you don’t bring everyone back safely, I’m of a mind to kill you myself.
Long Live the King,
Captain Andrew Fartrader
Kunzite smiled, appreciating the effort the man was putting in for him, considering it was also a risk to his own life. But he was surprised to hear he was not the only one who had connections with Andrew. He supposed it made sense, as Kunzite himself would never be informed of the Moon’s whole network. He suspected Andrew’s name dropping was also a mistake wrought by lack of sleep. He had otherwise made the effort to make the letter innocuous to outsider’s eyes. It also hardened Kunzite’s intentions to gather information, if only to spite the arrogant Moon race. He made a mental note to look into Lady Beryl’s Moon interests, but it would have to wait until they got back.
Kunzite tried to seek out his generals to deliver the good news, but found that they were nowhere to be seen. Asking around, he discovered they had, all three of them, gone hunting. The poor guard who provided the news could feel the air chill around Kunzite when he heard. How could they endanger the most critical mission of their lives by playing around all morning? What of their alibi to be out hunting at night? Kunzite took it as a sign of fear, like weaker military men who visited the houses of pleasure before big battles “in case it was their last time.” He would have a few choice words for them when they returned. That is, if they had the courage to, Kunzite thought with disgust.
Tag: The generals on their return
|
|
|
Post by Prince_Endymion on Dec 19, 2014 15:48:56 GMT -5
Nephrite snickered, as he exited the washroom, fully dressed and finishing up by running a comb through his long brown hair. “Put off seems to be putting it mildly… dear Zoisite.” His shoulders rose and set in a grumpy shrug, still bothered by his wake up call. “However, I’m not particularly thrilled by Kunzite’s choice here; of course, he’s our commander, and I’ll always follow him anywhere. I merely don’t believe this was one of his better judgment calls.” Depositing the comb upon his table, he moved to Zoisite’s side to exit his bed chamber and head off to find Jadiete.
The crisp morning breeze was exhilarating, and helped the lingering tiredness to wear off the newly awoken general. A smirk crossed his lips watching Jadiete continuing to pack up the horses for a morning of hunting. As the blonde head bobbed up behind a horse, the man stretched his arms above his head. “Dramatic and time consuming… summing up Jadiete in so few words…”
Glowering at the younger man, who knew darn well he would have preferred resting on his own terms, he gruffed his displeasure slightly before rolling his dark blue eyes. “Would have slept better without your interference… but let’s not be too unrealistic here.” Motioning towards the sky as he spoke, “A ball is a ball, right? I have no intention in being destroyed by some ‘Moon People’. As much as I hate to agree with Endymion, we’re the Four Generals of Earth…” Grinning confidently, “We’ve faced worse than some well-dressed nobles…”
Finally Jadiete seemed to finish packing his collection of ‘snacks’ and the three men saddled up their horses and took off to the familiar hunting location a bit of a distance away. Although it felt as though a scolded child running from the offending parent, there was something freeing about being with just Zoisite and Jadiete in this moment. Although he was remaining optimistic, he knew Jadiete wasn’t completely wrong, this whole charade could go sour quite effortlessly. Hopefully the entire night would be as Endymion imagined, a night of dancing with someone ‘lovely’ as he’d stated.
Reaching their destination, he leapt from his horse, leaning against it for a moment, before yawning slightly, “I’ll give you this Jadiete… it was a good morning to head out here..”
[Tag: Jadiete, Zoisite]
|
|
|
Post by Prince_Endymion on Dec 28, 2014 9:31:42 GMT -5
[Holiday craziness is over, you shall see me responding way more quickly. Thank you for your patience!!] The grace of privacy Lady Beryl offered him brought a genuine smile to his lips. Such a novelty was rarely found amongst anyone connected to the Earth Kingdom’s Royal Family. For it seemed everyone constantly sought to know what the latest gossip surrounding the Earth’s Monarchy was. Nodding firmly at her knowing grin, he was grateful that she understood.
Her words were such an understatement, the entire kingdom was not only watching his every move, but calculating his future, long ago placing their hope in Earth’s future King. The thought caused an internal shudder to rattle the depths of emotions. The person who he was today couldn’t imagine what dreams and desires he’d have to trade in for the Crown that he was destined for, the Crown he would take out of obligation. Would there even be a piece of ‘Endymion’ left when King Endymion ascended to the throne? The answer disturbed him greatly.
He felt guilty for a moment at her breathless statement; she was right, he never asked for the easy route. Knowing he had to cover himself, cover his desperate need to know more about the Moon. There was that ‘desperation’ again; haunting him. The Prince smirked, shrugging sheepishly, “Well, true. But I figured I’d start with the closest kingdom first. Especially since I know the least about them.” As Beryl continued through the conversation, he felt his spirit lift in a tiny victory. She’d believed him. Bought his lines. Or at least certainly didn’t think he was about to drag his four generals to the Moon for a ball.
Granted, such thoughts were utter madness and no one would assume such actions out of anyone. Perhaps that’s why he had to do it. He had to do something irrational, unpredictable and dangerous, before he became so trapped in this gilded cage that he forgot what it was like to experience life. To experience moments. He wanted another moment with Serenity.
As Beryl dropped her tone so drastically, he suddenly understood the gravity of his nearly treasonous questioning. Had he even considered the repercussions of asking about another kingdom? It certainly wasn’t a normal inquiry for the Crown Prince. Nodding, he pressed a gentle hand on the middle of her back, following her lead as they moved down the corridor, towards a slightly less traversed area of this wing of the castle. The guiding hand fell from her back as their steps synced up to the other.
Dark eyebrows furrowed, as he listened to her hushed ‘contraband’ Intel. Longer lives, an entire kingdom devoted to the protection of a magical crystal. It certainly explained why Serenity had been so painfully elusive; the evidence was clear as to why citizens of Earth and Moon weren’t supposed to interact. They were able to heal disturbed animals and wounded people, what a wondrous thing. Endymion felt himself drift from Beryl for a moment, getting lost in his thoughts, before looking back down at her. Hopefully she didn’t find him rude, so quickly drifting away during a conversation he initiated.
Endymion smiled broadly, “Yes, Lady Beryl, You have been more than helpful. It appears I sought out the right advisor.” Taking a deep breath, he noted that the day was slipping past him for his next grand endeavor was drawing nearer. He had to seek out Kunzite and begin preparing.
“Thank you very much for all of your help. I hope you know that I greatly appreciate it. Do have a wonderful rest of your day, Lady Beryl.” The Prince smiled and bowed his head out of respect, before turning away from the advisor and briskly moving down the hall. He was unsure where to find Kunzite at this hour, but he needed to explain to him that he was both sorry and grateful.
Endymion was now out of the business wing of the castle and had just re-entered the wing where he and his generals most often resided. The sight of a silver-haired moving further down the hall was a welcome sight. He sped up, rushing past a few surprised faces to catch up with Kunzite.
“Kunzite…” He finally said as he reached him. “I’m glad I was able to find you, I was just off talking to one of my father’s council members, she actually had a fair amount of knowledge regarding the culture of the Moon.”
[Tag: Kunzite]
|
|
|
Post by Usagi_Tsukino_Kagetsu on Dec 28, 2014 19:18:27 GMT -5
The Generals were consummate professionals. But, as they wandered deeper into the forests, there was little talk of duty or valor. They actually spoke of nothing of consequence. Whether others would believe it, they joked about—laughed even. They were so alive, crouching behind trees and bushes alike, immersing themselves in the sounds of their homeland. There was something so cathartic about shutting out the day-to-day and just listening to the silence, honing in on their prey.
Going to the Moon would be no different. They would use their skills and adapt to their surroundings. It was hard to wrap their minds around what tonight’s adventures would bring in such an unknown space, but they would all do what was necessary. Jadiete was sure of it.
Jadeite hoisted a set of four slain rabbits onto a large wooden table within the palace’s main kitchen. A rather old woman, dressed in simple white and tan linens met the action with an intrigued smile. “And what do you wish me to do with these, Sir Jadeite?” She questioned.
“We’d like to have rabbit stew for lunch tomorrow.” He said bemusedly, running a gloved hand over the prizes from their hunting efforts before meeting gazes with the woman.
“It’s hardly a summer dish.” She said, plucking the rabbits from the table to store them in cooling chambers before she’d need to prepare them.
“Hm. We’ve been feeling a bit adventurous lately.” Zoisite said simply, reiterating their request with a coy grin. “Let’s go. There’s a lot to be done before it gets dark.” He added, his expression hardening.
The three of them began to walk down the hallway. Zoisite brought his hands back behind his head, letting out a sheepish yawn. “Well, I’m glad you admit to enjoying our time together, Nephrite.” He then paused, looking out on the floor-length windows, taking in the sprawling view of the court yard.
“I have to wonder what Endymion is thinking. If we go to the Moon.” He said softly and sternly. “If he finds this woman, which is a big if… what’s next? Are we actually giving him closure or opening a far more complex and dangerous door for him?” He questioned.
He folded his arms. “Regardless, I hope he sees the Moon’s pretentious nature and realizes why we all stay at a respectful distance of each other.” He reasoned, although unhopeful.
Jadeite rattled his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “Let’s stop with the seriousness, Zoisite.” He chided. “We were doing such a good job of it and actually having an okay day.” He mused with a sigh, pushing open the main doors into their shared wing of space. As his gaze lifted, he saw Kunzite and Endymion together.
“Well, this is all together unsurprising.” Jadeite said in a low tone. He moved toward the two men and flopped onto a nearby chair dramatically. “So, I guess it’s that time, eh?” He tiled his head to the side.
[Tag Generals and Endymion]
|
|
|
Post by General Kunzite on Dec 30, 2014 13:38:59 GMT -5
Kunzite had spent most of his day pacing back and forth his “office,” nothing more than the fancy word of the common hallway in the generals’ quarters, going over every plan and contingency he could. A small book of notes and musing chronicled his day’s labors. He tore his gaze away from the page when he heard Endymion approaching him. He gave a respectful nod when he was addressed and listened. A council member with knowledge of the Moon? “You mean Lady Beryl?” Kunzite hazarded the guess, though his tone sounded more like a statement of fact. The hypocrisy escaped him, but he didn’t like the fact that there was another member of the Court who knew either more or different things than he did, “What did she have to say?” he prompted.
While they were chatting, the heavy door that partitioned off that wing of the building opened, revealing none other than the other generals. Kunzite was still fuming that they decided to run away for sport without a word on such an important day, and Jadiete’s casual reaction did nothing to make him less annoyed. Still, he wouldn’t say anything in front of Endymion. Plus, he had reflected earlier, he needed them at their best morale – reprimanding them enjoying their potential last day on earth would accomplish nothing. So, he merely gazed at the distant window to gauge the sunlight,
“It is about is, yes.” He nodded to the group, “If you want to wash off the day’s adventure, now is the time. Endymion-sama, if you could make your final preparations as well. Dress lightly, since we’ll have our “costumes” all ready for us upon our arrival. I got word they’re properly tailored, so perhaps the Fates are with us after all.” He added with a quiver of sarcasm.
He also went off washed up for their departure. The anticipation in his veins was mounting, as before any large scale battle he led. As a field commander, he usually had intel on the enemy camps, their movements—enough to weigh the scales and strategy. He never did infiltration. He always had an idea of what to expect. And so, to a degree, he felt vulnerable. He couldn’t account for the enemy’s movements and he couldn’t even account for his allies. It was a risk beyond computation—but everyone was relying on him to make it work. And thus he would.
He rejoined his companions after a few minutes, “Well then,” he said, studying their expressions, “Let us be off.” He led them off the castle grounds with his precautionary explanations to the guards. He let as many people see them as possible to make it “obvious” that there was nothing suspicious. While some found the "night hunting" excursion curious, others sounded somewhat jealous.
If only they knew…
Mounting their horses, Kunzite led them to the isolated inn where he had met Captain Andrew the other day. Upon their arrival, they were met by one of the man’s crewmates, who escorted them to a covered wagon and off they went. A couple hours had passed when the sound of waves and seagulls heralded their arrival on a distant shore.
Their eyes met with a ship unlike that which they had ever seen before, Kunzite included. Although small, its very sheen bespoke an otherworldly quality. They were herded quietly into the cargo hold and it was only a few moments until the sound of waves across the side was replaced with the whistling of air and soon nothing but the rumbling of the ship itself. Kunzite found himself at high alert from the moment they broke from the shore. He was taking it all in, processing the whole experience as if his life would depend on remembering every last detail.
At length, he turned to the others, “The details of this plan will develop as we learn what we are getting ourselves into, but let’s cover what we know. This ballroom of the Moon Palace is our main staging area. I will take up a central location on the ground floor and from there will act as our hub. I ask you all stay within eye contact of me at all times. I’ll be monitoring the crowds and any guards to see if we are drawing any suspicion. We should spread out from there. Endymion, of course, will be the most mobile as he searches for our…”target.” Jadiete, I want you to take a central location in front of me, so I can use you to spread information and updates to the others as things develop. Zoisite, Nephrite, take either the left or right or top and bottom as whatever befits the area. Mingle, learn…enjoy yourselves.” He smirked lightly at the idiocy of the command. “This ship will be waiting where it docks for our return. I’ve been assured of at least three hours of safe time, so that is our limit. If we must leave sooner, then I will pass that command through Jadiete…if it doesn’t becoming immediately evident on its own. Any questions?”
Tag: Jadiete, Endymion, Nephrite, Zoisite.
|
|
|
Post by Usagi_Tsukino_Kagetsu on Jan 4, 2015 13:51:10 GMT -5
A bath. A loose hunter green shirt that felt surprisingly confining. A horse ride.
Zoisite blinked and watched uncomfortably as Jadeite leaned his face into his horse’s endless snout, caressing the beast tenderly and giving it sets of carrots as he cooed.
“It’s just a horse! You seriously need to reprioritize…” Zoisite hissed, trying to pull the man away with some level of dignity intact.
“It’s not just any horse. She’s my horse! And, she loves a good carrot.” Jadeite said softly, giving the majestic stallion his last carrot.
So much was happening so quickly. Now they all sat, kneeled, hunched—whatever made them all fit in a cargo bay of sorts. A ship? It was all beyond comprehension. It was all otherworldly.
It was easier to think they were travelling to some city, hidden at the bottom of the ocean. A city in some foreign world that was kept away from common knowledge for a reason. They were all drinking from a forbidden cup. They were all being let in on secrets that had been kept at arms distance for so long. It was clear that Endymion would forever be changed by his interactions with this girl.
What frightened Zoisite more than anything was the realization that they all were now all changed. Each had their own opinions of the seemingly pretentious Moon Kingdom. What if they were wrong? How much of their wisdom was built on baseless stories? How real were any of their realities and ideas of a moral compass?
Zoisite was trying to soak in every moment in. His hands poked about some of the items. He was intrigued by what Earthly items the Moon coveted.
The only person who could take comfort in properly tailored wares was Nephrite. As the ship began to sputter and Zoisite could feel them pulling away from the comfort and safety of land, he grew more concerned and cautious.
“Who sanctioned these trade routes? The King?” Zoisite questioned. Yes, people could do many things in secret, but having a ship of this sort on this planet. Certainly some within the royal court had to have some mind of what was going on.
Jadeite slipped off his archery gloves and began unclasping the many leather straps of his alignment cuff. “I guess I’ll just leave theses here.” He said before Kunzite could jump into his latest militaristic tirade. They no longer needed props to keep up their late night hunting charade.
Jadeite leaned back, head rested against his palms. “Hm. Yeah. I’ll run secondary point and have no fun at all.” He huffed in disappointment. In all honesty, he was quite prideful to be in the position that he was. He didn’t really have much of a family growing up. All the Generals had unique stories. Whether he’d ever admit it to the others, Kunzite had become his dysfunctional father figure. He loved to push the white-haired man’s buttons just as much as he hoped to be a man that brought the other pride and some peace of mind.
“The only question I have is whether there’s any more information we can have that will help us understand what we’re walking into. Is there anything else you know about the Moon Kingdom or its people, Kunzite?” Jadeite questioned, letting his hands fall into his lap as he leaned forward to listen intently.
“Oh, and instead of target, can we just say intriguing and beautiful woman?” Jadeite grinned. He was tired of the seriousness. If he were going to go down, he’d go down in glory, not deadpan seriousness. It wasn’t his style. “I know it’s longer, but it works.” He quirked his brow toward Endymion. “After all this, you better find her.” His gaze hardened and tone became more serious.
[Tag Generals and Endymion]
|
|
|
Post by Prince_Endymion on Jan 7, 2015 9:39:22 GMT -5
Nephrite swung into the room with Zoiste and Jadiete, returning from their halfway successful morning of hunting. Just before they entered he glanced at the other two, raising his eyebrows dramatically. “The beginning of the end… at least if you’re being overly dramatic like Jadiete over here.” Upon entering he noted the seriousness upon Kunzite and Endymion’s faces. Great. They were off to a rousing start.
Rolling his eyes as he fed his horse a carrot, watching Jadiete’s exchange, “Are you trying to act like an idiot, or is it just natural?” The long haired man mounted his horse, and glanced ruefully at the palace behind them, watching as his home grew smaller and smaller as they rode into the distance. Excitement and nervousness mixed into a strange emotion for him, he was actually rather interested in seeing the Moon Kingdom. No one had been there and from Endymion’s ramblings, apparently the women were stunning. He wouldn’t mind teaching a couple ladies how to dance tonight. Perhaps it was that thought alone that kept the anxiety at bay.
Once in the hull of the ship, he found a comfortable spot to lean against, watching the conversation unfold yet again. They didn’t often have these ‘open’ forum type conversations with each other. Upon hearing that their suits were tailored properly, he grinned. “That’s the kind of detail I’m talking about. NO one would believe us to be ball patrons in ill-fitting outfits.” Glancing over at Zoisite and Jadiete he frowned, “It’s just too bad you still have to…” Motioned to Zoisite’s face, “Wear this…”
Chuckling lightly to himself he folded his arms across his chest, feeling more confident. Honestly. They could pull this off. He would follow Kunzite’s military strategy. It had never steered them wrong, why would today be any different?
---
As quickly as he’d arrived, Zoisite, Jadiete and Nephrite returned from a morning of hunting. They appeared to be ever so slightly dramatic in their return, to which Endymion watched quietly from his station in the room. Kunzite told them to go all wash up, and the man’s bit of sarcasm wasn’t lost on the Earth Prince. He knew that he’d asked a lot of them, for this endeavor. But it was the first time he could recall ever asking something so selfish. They’d just have to go along with it at this point. Somewhere deep inside him, there was a feeling of peace, an inkling that they’d be fine and a desperate hope that he’d see her tonight.
Washing up as quickly as possible, Endymion had one quick errand before they left. He went to the rose garden and looked around, trying to find a pretty rosebud. Not quite able to forget the child-like joy on her face when she’d seen the roses, he wanted to bring her one. Snipping the stem carefully he tucked it into his riding jacket, ready to put on a good show for this hunting ruse. Meeting up with the Generals he mounted his horse, watching bemused as Jadiete nuzzled his animal. Jadiete seemed to be the only one smiling. Kunzite seemed wound rather tightly and even Nephrite and Zoisite’s wit was quiet at the moment.
Mounting his horse, they took off gallantly. The ride was quiet, even he was more contemplative than normal. But he felt a glorious excitement filling him. He was certain the generals were not excited except for this endeavor to be over. The scent of the rose inside his pocket was comforting, allowing his mind to slip back into the memory of being with Serenity at Lake Kosuke. A small smile traced his lips at the thought that if all went well, he’d be with her again shortly.
Once situated in the unique ship that would bring them to their destination, the Moon, Endymion listened closely to Kunzite. It sounded like a battle plan. Which of course to the military expert, everything was to be executed like one. “I understand that this was planned like a military operation, but it won’t be the end of the world if you all have a good time.” Gaze shifting amongst the four men, he frowned slightly, “I know this is nerve wracking, and I’ve never asked anything like this of you before, and won’t again. However, you’ve been to hundreds of balls. This one is just in a different place.” He sighed heavily, hoping his words brought them some degree of comfort. Surely once the music was playing and people were dancing, they would see that it wasn’t so terrifying.
Endymion smirked at Jadiete’s comment regarding the ‘target’. Well. She was the target, and she was beautiful and intriguing. “If you makes you feel better Jadiete… and I will. Don’t worry.” Searching their faces he clasped his hands together behind his back and padded about the space as he spoke. “I did acquire a bit more information about the Moon Kingdom today. I spoke with Lady Beryl of my Father’s Court. She knows a great deal about a lot of things.”
“First off all, she said that the Moon People look and sound like us. Physically and language-wise we will fit in without complication.” Rolling his shoulders back as he spoke, he continued, “They have no King. Just a Queen and Princess. The Royal family is believed to be the reincarnations of the Moon Goddess by some. The culture revolves around a very powerful crystal, the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou.” His blue eyes traced the faces of the Generals, seeing apprehension lingering in their gazes. He hoped his intuition was correct and that all would be well. “The Royal family is tasked with protecting it. Also the Moon People have a longer life span than us. Other than that, Lady Beryl said they were pretty mysterious.”
The Prince looked to Kunzite, gripping his shoulder tightly. “Thank you old friend, your plan seems sound. We’ll be fine.”
[Tag: Kunzite, Zoisite, Jadiete]
|
|
|
Post by General Kunzite on Jan 7, 2015 11:26:42 GMT -5
This still had to be the most bizarre mission Kunzite had ever embarked on. Normally before a big battle, he let his soldiers relax a little. Not neglect themselves, of course, but laugh and play because of how important their morale was. Allowing them to experience the “ordinary pleasures” of life reminded them of what they were fighting for. Gave them time to burn images of their loved ones into their heads and kept their sense of urgency from burning them out. They could relax, because Kunzite took all their pressure on themselves. He stayed serious, either seriously or playfully scolded them as he walked among the troops. They saw that he was confident and at ease and that allowed them to feel confident and at ease.
But this wasn’t an ordinary mission. He wasn’t confident in what he knew and what he didn’t. He felt a pressure to perform that he hadn’t in a long time. Pressure to keep these men, the closest thing he had to family and the future of the Earth Kingdom to boot, safe from threats he didn’t even know existed yet. These anxieties made him brittle and he had to restrain himself from snapping at Jadiete’s ordinary jabs. His brain felt like it was overheating from the planning and counter-planning. He was even questioning the wisdom of doing all this. Was his honor worth this suicide mission? Had he just damned them all by keeping a spontaneous promise? He felt horribly alone with the crushing worry and intangible guilt he had to shoulder. Because they looked to him for guidance in this, it was impossible to share any of his concerns. He needed to keep up his show of confidence for their sake.
“I don’t have any other information to offer you, unfortunately.” He said with his usual tone, “The little information I was privy to was the Moon’s involvement on Earth –this” he waved a hand around them. Thankfully—in a select meaning of the word—Endymion had something else to add.
After that, Beryl occupied his mind. She knew things about the Moon as well. Was she one of those selected by the Moon, or else just very good at gathering information? Was she one of those who helped run and organize these trade routes? Depending on what happened during this “mission,” he might confront the Lady Beryl and find out what else she knew. If she was one of the specially chosen, she could be in danger if things went awry here.
Kunzite smirked at giving this woman a more endearing codename…but Kunzite had to keep her at “target” in his own mind. The greatest unknown that they all faced was the unspoken one. What would Endymion actually do if he found this woman? Having defied space in order to find her, would it be enough to simple say, “Found you!” and vanish? Endymion claimed he would never again have them undertake this, and Kunzite had asked for the special pick up zone to keep Endymion from trying to duplicate it…but this woman he sought was a target. Impersonal. Because otherwise, he might not be able to do what he needed to save his Prince from her.
At length, a shift in the momentum of the ship signaled they were docking. After coming to a complete stop, there was silence for a few moments before the bay opened and a man decked in sailor’s garb approached them carrying five formal suits over his arm.
“Compliments of Captain Andrew Fartrader” he said with a smirk before handing them over. It seemed like this man was actually amused by the attempt to infiltrate a Moon Ball. “Once you change, I’ll lead you to the edge of the docks quietly. After that, you’re on your own. Exchanging our cargo should take about three hours…a little bit more if they’re clumsy.” He winked. “I’ll remain where I guide you until then. Come find me before we’re done, or else I hope you enjoy Moon cuisine.”
Tag: Endymion, Jadiete, Nephrite, Zoisite
|
|
|
Post by Usagi_Tsukino_Kagetsu on Mar 9, 2015 13:23:22 GMT -5
The Lady Beryl basked at the endless dark sky of stars hanging above her. Restless nights such as these were nights to be outside, looking for peace out in the lush fields beyond the Earth Palace. She sat on the ground, knees buried deeply into her chest. Her cheek slid along her knobby knees while she thought on.
His fingertips touching hers. The feeling of his hand upon the small of her back. Those ignition points stuck in her head; yet, she didn’t even get the chance to ask Prince Endymion what he’d want for his upcoming birthday celebration. She frowned at his mystery. What game was he playing? Did he even know how she saw him? Was he just being kind?
She huffed in resentment of not knowing the answer to any of those questions.
She had asked around the Palace for the Prince. She hoped to make good on her missed opportunity to ask about his birthday wishes. Oddly, she was told the Prince and all his guardians were out on some late-night hunt. It seemed out of character. Most men in the Kingdom preferred morning hunts, at least she thought they were more fruitful. She usually didn’t get tangled up in such trifles.
Lifting her head, she brought a hand over her temple. She closed her eyes again, the vision of an unknown woman clinging to Endymion at the wooded lake refused to push from her conscious. The voice, strong and desperate followed. Was there more to Endymion’s retreat that day? Was the woman and all the rest an aggregate of mixed feelings and desires? Her wants, her jealousy. Her lips tightened together and she brought a fist to the ground. She wanted it all to stop. She needed to be patient. She needed to be herself.
As she gave herself the freedom to look back at the stars, her gaze filled with wonderment. Showering down in silver sparks. “Another meteor shower?” She questioned, resting her chin against her hand. And, if her memory served her correctly, their astronomers had predicted others were on the way. She couldn’t recall a time when she saw so many. Each were startling and beautiful. They were gentle reminders of the larger world around them.
“I’m coming nearer. I need your help.” A low voice rumbled from the skies. Beryl scurried to her knees, bringing a hand to her chest. “Who are you?!” She called out, sweeping around to find the source of the sound, only to see nothing. “What do you want?” She questioned, gaze narrowed.
“Follow your will and you’ll find me. We need each other.” The voice echoed.
Flipping a hand through her fire-red locks, she raced forward in frustration. “What is that supposed to mean?” She said, that powerless, restless feeling taking control.
“I need energy. I need to restore the balance… you must embrace your destiny.” The voice encouraged.
“What destiny?” She questioned coldly, folding her arms. “I don’t have some divine sense of feeling. I don’t know how to find you…” She called out. She was giving up on this haunting specter.
“You will soon enough.” The voice bellowed as the brisk wind swept the woman up. “When you’re ready to embrace me and do what’s necessary, you’ll find me.”
|
|