|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 4:30 pm
Quote: Prompt 1 (Diamond Dust): This time of year, snow is common. What’s uncommon is the single, strange snowfall where each snowflake that fell glistened like tiny diamonds. For the most part, the snow seems fairly normal—it’s cold, wet, and melts just like any other snow, it just also happens to look like tiny little gems are falling from the sky. Depending on who you’re with, it’s either incredibly strange, or incredibly romantic. When the snow is coming down at its strongest, crystalized snowflakes trickle down with the rest of the snow. These are roughly the size of a quarter and are light and hollow. They are fragile, like glass, but glisten like a fine cut gem. No one can explain this anomaly, but these small snowflakes won't melt. And they are all over Destiny City. You can find them gently falling to the ground, or lying in the fresh fallen snow. There doesn’t seem to be anything particularly magical about them, but they are beautiful and make pretty keepsakes.
In fact, that particular snow was on the bottom of his list, and he did his best to keep it off of the library steps, or the walkway up to his front door. Shoveling snow was also not particularly high on his list of things he liked.
As he thought about it, Camelot was becoming less sure he did, in fact, like snow.
This snowfall had started like any other. Cold, of course, but not particularly forceful at the start. Gentle flakes falling from the sky, thinly coating everything in white, and then in wetness as it immediately melted away. It started to fall harder during his patrol, and that was when he started noticing something strange. While snow was usually quite pretty as it fell, this particularly storm was something else.
It was really coming down now, Camelot's cape feeling quite heavy from the clinging snow and ice, but he hardly noticed. His eyes were turned upwards, watching the snow that fell like it was wholly alien. Instead of flakes, they almost looked like... gemstones? And some were huge, the ones resting on his armored shoulders almost as big as coins. One had broken when it landed, but another he was able to pick up, and it did not melt away like a traditional snowflake.
"Huh," he said to the snowflake as much to himself, considering there was no one else around. "Aren't you strange?"
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 4:59 pm
Puck was always trying to get Taiyi to power up and do the 'patrol' thing, so he did it sometimes to keep his friend happy. He did this begrudgingly, and with a long sigh through the whole magical transformation. A flashy display of winding cool water wrapped him in a uniform he would rather forget, and he was off to do his rounds. Usually they were uneventful. He made sure of that. He would usually dash into a secluded spot and power down the second he sensed an aura, especially from the Negaverse. Once he was out for more than ten minutes, that was enough time to end his 'patrol' and go on to the next thing. Usually it was checking on all his Pokemon Go gyms. His stole and tassels fluttered in the winter wind, and then his entire face was struck wide open when he finally paid attention to the scene outside. Suddenly he was running out with urgency. Was he seeing what he thought he was seeing? "Excuse me, sir! Sir Knight?" He spotted someone with a friendly aura nearby. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything, I just wanted to make sure. Is this snow?" A stone-colored hand dug with wood-colored fingernails into the stuff that had covered the ground, and he held up a handful for the Knight to inspect. " Real snow?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 6:34 pm
Camelot turned at the voice, realizing in his distraction that he had let his senses fail him completely. His guard was as down as it could be, which was not great when anyone could easily take advantage of it. Thankfully, there was no Chaos in the area, at least that he could feel immediately. Instead, a friendly voice called out to him, and roused him from his wonderings.
"It is snow, indeed," Camelot said, eyebrows raising in wonder. There were a few things to process here, but he took them in stride, focusing on the questions at hand first. He found himself immediately grinning, charmed by the handful of snow that was being held out to him. "For the most part, pretty normal snow. These little crystal ones, though, they're... well. Unique."
This was not technically his first encounter with someone from another realm, but that did not mean he was thoroughly experienced. He found himself immediately curious, a flood of his own questions bombarding the dam in his head, but it held fast. He was a patient, polite person, after all, and he would get to any questions he could ask when the time was right.
"I take it you've never seen it before? New to the city, then. Ah. If that's not... a stupid thing to say." Camelot looked perplexed for a moment, but shook it off and grinned in stride. "My name is Camelot, Royal Knight of Earth, at your service."
As customary, he bowed his head.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2022 10:09 am
"Wow..." The youthful senshi was going to get his hand frostbitten, and he didn't mind. The cold sensation was like a sweet taste to him, after many years of wondering. He was too delighted to be worried about how his skin would suffer from this later. "I've only heard stories about real snow. It really does chill your bones!" Taiyi grinned while the numbness traveled down to his wrist. "I've been in town for a while. You can call me Sailor Taiyi, I guess. Not that it means a whole lot here. You said you're a Royal Knight? Consider me honored to meet you, then." The snow finally dropped to the ground, and he clasped his hands together to offer a customary bow. "I've been in the city for a while. The spring was just starting when I got here. You have four whole seasons on Earth, that's so nice!" Taiyi took in a grateful gulp of the winter air. It had a whole different flavor than the spring.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2022 11:35 am
Camelot smiled brightly at the wonder on the senshi's face, charmed. It was easy, for some, to find something that made them so happy when to others it was all too common, or even an annoyance. There were plenty of times when Camelot looked at snow, like when he had to take Dogby and Gizmo for a walk, and he was less than excited to see it.
Now, though, he found the excitement a little infectious. He looked at the snow with a smile on his face, appreciating it for the time being. Until it buried his car or attempted to murder him by creating a hidden slick of ice on his sidewalk.
"We sure do. Most of the time. Sometimes one season feels shorter than another, though that just might be my old bones disliking extreme heat or cold. I prefer the cool, middle seasons." He chuckled, looking curious and finally letting it get the better of him. "What was it like where you came from, Sailor Taiyi? Beyond it's lack of snow."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2022 3:45 pm
The sage blush on the senshi's face drained to ashen white at the question. For a long moment, he stared blankly at some of the prints his sandals had left behind in the snow. "It was very different from here," he said, in a weak and dry whisper. The look on his face begged to not be questioned further.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2023 2:27 pm
"Oh, forgive me, I shouldn't have pried," Camelot said, looking upset with himself. His expression softened, warm green eyes filled with patience and understanding, despite his own confusion. What he did not understand and what was new to him was simply on the surface, while the interaction and necessity for a bit more care and tact were ingrained and easily transcended any planetary difference between them.
He could be polite to anyone. Everyone. He could see the social cues of pushing too far all too easily, and he could hear the pain in one's voice when a topic they did not want to talk about came up. He was usually a bit more careful, and didn't put his foot completely into it quite so quickly.
Maybe he'd let his curiosity get the better of him.
Shifting gears, he waved at the snow around them.
"This snow should stick for some time, with how cold it has been. I'm not quite sure about the little gem stone-y ones, however beautiful they are. I wonder what's made them shaped like that..." He managed to pick up a few of the little crystals, but was quick to learn how fragile they were by two shattering and melting away against his palm. He scooped up a bit more of a snow buffer, and the crystals sitting on it were able to keep their shape.
He offered his hand toward Taiyi, so he could see them better. "They're like perfect little diamonds."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2023 12:50 pm
The Tai senshi soon relaxed, with his worries set aside for the moment on a breath that condensed in the winter air. He did not like letting his mind wander to Taiyi for long. He had only ever heard stories of his homeworld's apparent beauty. The world he had actually been born to was a horrible place. Earth was much nicer. He kneeled down, and peered carefully at the strange stone-crystals. They were certainly beautiful. Another wonder of this world, one among countless. And Camelot -- here he was, a Royal Knight of this world -- "I remember learning a little bit about Knights," he said, his voice springy and fresh again. "Being an Earth Knight means you were chosen by this world, right? To protect little things like this." His smile broadened. "It sounds like a good, noble life."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2023 8:22 am
Camelot looked at the other in wonder, looking curious once again. Cautiously so, now, but he smiled as his warm green eyes considered the idea.
"Yes, it does. Everyone has the innate potential inside them to be chosen as a knight, and I am very fortunate to be chosen by the planet I call home to fight in its name. I know Earth is a very beautiful, special place. Full of magic and life, and the promise of hope and happiness. I endeavor to protect that promise, so everyone, born here or brought here, has a chance at a good life."
He smiled at the other, offering him a small bow, though his armor and cape made even that small gesture a fairly grand one to look at. He was every bit the story book knight, a creation of Earth, and he was all too honored to embody it. It was a gift he had been given, even if it did sometimes get him teased by those who were not quite as romantic and fantastical in their imaginations.
"That includes you, of course. If you should ever need me."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
