Eclipsxe

“Tomato, tomahto,” he said waving her off. Syphon was well aware of who and what kind of player Eclipse was. He wouldn’t and didn’t want to get bogged down by semantics. “ Well you have impeccable timing, seeing as Charlotte isn’t here,” he scoffed before continuing. “ and as flattered as I am about your underline passions for me… I’ll pass.” his mannerism was very flippant when it came to people he didn’t like. Still, banter aside he supposed he was relieved  that she wasn’t dead in velia pixilated heaven. Less Achilles take on that guilt. His interest, in her piqued when she said she needed his help. That was a change, he knew she didn’t like him and he sure as hell didn’t like her. So, if Eclipse was here then that meant  it must be serious didn’t it? “ I’ll give you five minutes. A generous offer considering you are using me right now,” he said tapping at his bare wrist, “ tick-tock princess.”

Eclipse bit the inside of her lip to control her temper. She hated being called Princess more than anything else. It reminded her of her parents. I need to know what went down in the last month. Deaths, Monsters, Floors, all of it. Any decent guild leader would have that. A great one would have a record but you know not pushing my luck with that.” she said to him. “I missed too much and I need to fill in the blanks. I could rustle up the information myself but I don’t have that kind of time. You’re the the only guild leader I sort of trust because you won’t kill me even if it is just out of respect for Rowan.” Eclipse looked up at him, pleading in her eyes. She couldn’t bare the thought that while she was out she had finally lost the chance to find Catalina. “Don’t think of it as using. Think of it as a favor. I’ll owe you Garrison. Big time. And you know what I’m capable of. I’m a valuable person to collect a debt from. In game and Out.”

Padme hadn’t slept more than a few hours that entire week, and it was beginning to show. Her house was covered in trays of scones and muffins and cakes and pies–not unusual, except that half of them were burned, and Padme never, ever burned her baking. The plants that normally lined her walls and ceiling and furniture were also growing out of control, until the veins seemed to take up more room than the actual house itself. Padme usually communicated with the pants–used enough magic, that is–to keep them in their place. But she hadn’t bothered this time. 

When she opened the door, she hoped for one wild moment that it’d be Achilles or Hades standing on the other side. Realistically, she’d expected another guild member. 

She had never thought it would be Eclipse.

Padme leaned against the doorframe. She was half tempted to close the door and be done with it, but curiosity got the better of her. It had been a month since she’d seen Eclipse, over a month since she’d learned who she really was. No matter what Eclipse said, Padme still believed she’d been tricked, that Eclipse had only pretend to be her friend to get information on Achilles. Joke was on her though, wasn’t it? Turns out she wasn’t such an expert on Achilles after all. 

“So you’re alive,” she said. “Are you hurt?” It was the only reason she could guess that Eclipse would be here. She’d found her local mystic and must have been desperate. “What do you need?” She wasn’t going to let Eclipse die or be in pain, but the quicker she could get her the right medicine and slam the door on her face, the better. 

“I’m fine, now anyway. I got-” she started but stopped. She didn’t need Padme worrying about her. Besides, that’s not why she was here. “I need...well...you. I need to talk to you.”  she said to the woman. If you hate me still afterward than so be it but you’re the only person I trust to talk to about this right now.” Eclipse had made up her mind earlier in the day. She had almost died. Everything she did, was almost for nothing. She needed to tell someone the truth. About everything. Who she was. Why she was. She could have picked Achillies, but that would only confuse him more. She could have picked Kilmongur. But she was afraid the woman would see her differently and she’d lose her only friend. And so she chose Padme. Because even though she hated Eclipse, she was always honest. Trustworthy. “Please Pads.”

“ Yeah but a whole month? I was worried you shit head, next time find the words you hear me?” she was upset but mostly it was out of fear. Fear that she had lost her closest friend and that thought alone… Killmongur didn’t do well when she lost people. So, she held on to the woman for a moment longer before pulling away a smile on her face as Eclipse scooped up the black kitten pawing at her leg, “ - when you dipped Wicca was still in the apartment with me. I hoped you’d be back and I knew you’d kill me if I didn’t take care of our little girl.” she chuckled watching the two. A twinge of sadness hitting her as she thought of Midnight but she pushed that to the side, she would have him back soon. “ Wicca’s been keeping me company while her mama was away,” the thought hitting her that now she would be alone  when the pair left. Clearing her throat, Killmongur turned leading the way to her common area, “ So, I want to know where you’ve been, but first what were you saying before? About coming here so late?” she asked patting the seat next to her on the couch.

“Just apologizing for the late hour. I came to not too long ago and well, I could wait until morning.” Eclipse sat next to her friend. “I got attacked after leaving home that night. I won the fight.” she said pointing up to her courser that had become a deeper red, “But I passed out. My injuries got infected and then another player found me. They kept me under until my wounds healed completely.” she explained.  As she spoke, she couldn’t shake the odd feeling over her. Eclipse was always very aware of her surroundings. But something now, felt off. She glanced around the room slowly before her eyes landed on Wicca. That was it. “Mony.....where’s midnight?” she asked. Normally the dog came bounding to her.

Syphon had to rub the sleep out of his eyes when he open the door to his home and found Eclipse standing on his front porch. She had gone awol for a while and Syphon had thought he’d seen the last of her… apparently Eclipse had other plans. Crossing his arms he leaned against the door frame, “ You know I would ask how you found my place, but considering that your a bit of a stalker I can’t say that I’m surprised.” glad that Charlotte had taken an early guard duty shift at HQ . To say Eclipse was her least favorite person was an understatement. “ Any particular reason you’re banging at my door this early in the morning?”

“I’m not a stalker. Information gathering is what I do as you well know.” she countered. She can’t say she missed the cold stare with hatred hiding deep in his eyes. She rolled her eyes at his statement. It wasn’t even that early. “Clearly I’m here to confess forever burning flames of passion for you. Take me.” she said dead-panned right back at him. “Look, the fact of the matter is. I need help. And unfortunately you are the quickest route to that.”

Killmongur sat in her living room of her small cabin. An amused smile on her face as she watched Wicca play with one of Midnights old balls. The little kitten bringing her so much comfort as she waited for the needed materials to bring midnight back. Something that she was  anxious to do; her powers had been a little spotty as of late. Flaring up from time to time, ( normally when she was sad, or mad or fucking over this place.) - for the most part though her orbs lay  dormant  around her neck. A decorative peice of jewelry for lack of a better description . The dark tome, sat on her lap as she flipped though it’s pages; another pointless activity with now magic. It was all a distraction really, trying to keep her mind off things of the changes that seemed to fill the air of this damn game.

When she heard the knock at the door she frowned, only a few people knew where she lived and she didn’t think any of them would come to her at this hour. Closing the book, she looked down at Wicca “What do you think little miss, think that meanie Aspen created a pizza delivery man to come attack us next?” Wicca- who tried to climb on the ball- tumbled to the floor her head tilted to the side as she looked up at her. Killmongur chuckled as she threw open the door- well she didn’t see this one coming. Standing on her door step was Eclipse; having the nerve to just say “Hi”.

“ Hi? Seriously?” She asked indignant voice slightly raised as she looked at the other woman, shell shocked. “- you’ve been gone all this time. No dm, no messages, no sign of you and all you can manage is… Hi?” Without another word, Killmongur flung her arms a around her friend; because god damn it that was what Eclipse was to her. Eyes welling up with tears though they didn’t fall and hugged her tightly. “ Your such a fucking jerk do you know that?”

“I’m not one for words you know that.” Eclipse let out a sigh of relief, wrapping her arms around the woman tightly. “I’m sorry Mony. If I could have you know I would have.” she said voice slightly cracking as she took in the comforting embrace. Quite frankly this went better than expected. She half expected Kilmongur to put her into another coma. She took a step back, blinking back tears. “I’m sorry it’s so late. I nee-” a small meow caught her attention and she stopped speaking. she looked down as the black fur ball pounced on her leg. “Wicca! OH YOURE SAFE!” Eclipse dropped to her knees, scooping up the small kitten in her arms. There was no blinking back tears now. There was sobbing. And so much of it. “Where did you find her?!”