First bit posted from google Docs
Someone is always celebrating something in Destiny City and that means that fireworks are incredibly common. One night, a series of beautiful, shimmering lights illuminate the sky. It’s a gorgeous display, more so than usual. The air is clear and the lights glisten--and keep glistening. Even after the fireworks end, anyone who watched them will see lights as if reflected through crystals. The display makes everything seem more charming and beautiful. While some may find the experience disorienting or distracting, it’s not uncomfortable or unpleasant. It has the strange effect of making everything seem more appealing--even things that might otherwise be distasteful, painful, or unattractive. Mood may be improved, but effects fade after an hour or two.
With all manner of holidays celebrated in Destiny City it was no wonder people were used to fireworks - they were common. Tonight was no exception as there was another fireworks display to celebrate...something, Xi-wang prefered the lunar new years celebration in the city.
Bundled up in one of the cities parks, out in a field, surrounded by a fairly large group of people he was settled in to watch the fireworks show for the night. They were due to start soon, any minute now, and he wondered once again why he hadn’t invited anyone to join him. He didn’t like being alone and yet here he was - alone. But he supposed he just wanted to let others have nights to themselves, to be together with their significant others, and Gabriel was a bit busy which he easily understood and accepted.
---
Misha had no idea what Micah liked anymore. Or rather, what Rhona liked. He’d been to nearly every shop in the city, and still nothing jumped out at him. Well… actually a s**t ton had, but it had reminded him of Micah, and whoever his sister was now, that wasn’t it. Or was it? It was like being thrust into the life of a complete stranger and then being expected to act like you had known them forever. Actually, it wasn’t even like that… that was exactly what had happened. Micah -- god damn it Rhona had screamed back into his life like a comet and they were just… circling one another. Trying to puzzle out the mystery of the other.
Misha cursed as he put a plush from a video game that they used to play together back down. Did she even still play it? Would she have any use at all for a toy like this? Who even was she now?
He left the shopping district and made it way somewhere else… anywhere else… really he was just following a crowd absently. Something to do. Somewhere to go.
The parks were nice here. Nothing like his old town with the overzealous but no less well-intending parks department, but… nice. Peaceful.
A tall, dark head caught his attention. Unlike his sister, Misha had always been good at remembering those he met. Even when it was under duress like the last meeting had been.
“Er… Xi-Wang, right?“ Misha cleared his throat nervously. “Can I sit with you?”
---
Looking up, surprised to hear someone address him, he nodded his head slowly. “Yeah, you can join me. The grounds a bit cold though.” He offered with a shrug of his shoulders. “You’ve been doing well?” He questioned, curious, as he tilted his head a bit. He did hope Rhona’s twin was doing well, he knew Rhona cared for her brother, and so the other had Xi-Wang’s concern and care - his protection.
“I’m surprised...the city isn’t safe during the holidays.” He was surprised Rhona wasn’t attached to her brothers side, if they were getting along now, since she knew more than he did how dangerous holiday season was in Destiny City.
---
“Ahh, yeah. I’ve been… I’m been fine.” A lie, Misha knew, but easier than the truth. Rhona had not totally forgiven him for abandoning her, and he had not forgiven her the same sin. But it was… at least… moving in the right direction, he supposed. He hoped.
Xi hadn’t been lying, the ground was cold. Even through his jeans, he could feel it uncomfortably.
“The city isn’t safe ever, if memory serves,” Misha counted with a sigh, propping one arm upon his knee. “May as well live life as best as one can despite that. Life, after all, goes on.” He finished with a gesture at the gathered crowd, showcasing the penchant for the dramatic that he and his sister both shared.
“I must confess, though, I’m not sure what I’m here for. I just kind of… followed.”
A deafening boom, however, clarified the issue. Misha jumped, but only just slightly. The resulting firework drew a smile across his face, though he didn’t really know why. Fireworks were never really his scene. More Mich- Rhona’s. But these… seemed different somehow.
“I was out shopping for Mich -- er… Rhona. But I can’t seem to settle on something. It’s hard shopping for a stranger.”
Why was he telling this man this? Misha wasn’t the open book his sister was. And yet…
---
“I agree...but the holidays seem worse as of lately.” He said with a small shrug of his shoulders. “It seems to be new...I’m surprised you’re sister isn’t with you to keep you safe. From giant spiders to massive bats attacking people the holidays have been...bad.” It was also a wonder it didn’t make national news, or anything outside of this city. People had to put it out onto social media and yet nothing...somehow.
“It feels like we’re trapped in a magical void….we can come and go, yeah, but anything magical that happens here...it never is heard of elsewhere. No matter what people may post or talk about online. It somehow doesn’t make it and get seen.” A magical void of sorts.
A slight jolt from Xi-Wang at the bang which filled the air, indicating the start of the show. Turning his dark eyes onto the night sky he smiled a bit more. “She’s still you’re sister...the same person at the base - I’m sure. She’s aged and changed...without a doubt. But people still cling to things from their childhood all the time. People cling to things they enjoyed and found joy in.” Such as adults who still played pokemon, and still owned plushies yet were adults with jobs and careers.
“I can help though...if you want. After this?”
---
“I’m 26 years old. My younger sister is not my keeper.”
Perhaps he had spoken a bit sharper than he intended, but the idea that he could rely on Mic -- <********, Rhona -- for anything, let alone protection, was out of the question.
“A magical void,” Misha parrotted, toying his lower lips between his thumb and forefinger. Xi had a good point, he had to admit. Why was social media not blowing up with what was happening in DC? When he was in Indiana he didn’t hear a single whisper about DC aside from the normal bullshit that sometimes got cities on national TV. Large events, corruption, scandals… but nothing magical.
“It is odd. I didn’t hear anything strange about Destiny City when I lived in Indiana. Not that it’s really surprising, though. Think about the chaos the world would be plunged into knowing that monsters and magical space soldiers exist. The arms balance of the world would shift. It wouldn’t be about who had the most nukes, it’d be who had the most senshi or the most officers.
Maybe the next world war would be fought like this,” he gestured widely about him.
“Maybe it’s the world finding equilibrium. The universe balancing the absolute anomaly that this city is.”
He fell silent again as the fireworks went off before him, still fiddling with his lower lip.
“But yeah, I will accept the help if you’ll offer it. May as well do this whole gift-giving thing right… just because I don’t trust her worth a s**t right now doesn’t mean I don’t still love her. ********, I came back for her, didn’t I?”
Wait… wait he didn’t mean to say that… why did he say that?
