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 Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2025 9:09 pm
Quote: The Lantern Festival (7) : Scientists have been hard at work trying to understand the strange, glowing qualities of the luminescent caterpillars found in the caves by the reservoir. The caterpillars still shrivel up if they are taken out of the caves but their glowing secretions have been processed into an organic paste that can withstand the outside world. The city is selling paper lanterns infused with various seeds. The glow paste is full of minerals to support healthy plant growth without risking damage to the environment; all lantern purchases come with a small packet of activating power that will heat the paste up enough to mimic the effects of a candle without the concerns of flammability. When the glow paste loses its heat, the lantern will return to the Earth and upon the first rain (or any contact with water) the paper will dissolve and the seeds may begin to grow. All proceeds from the lanterns are put right back into the community to support local conservation and environmental protection efforts."
Life was not always easy nor was it always what someone wanted it to be.
It was something he'd been learning more and more since Sasha had arrived on Earth, and in Destiny City, as the alien senshi was more social than he was and attatched to the past and to homeworlds where as Ian was not. The amoutn of times he'd gone to Chaldene since meeting Sasha was more than he'd ever gone in all the years before Sasha had turned up, and that said a lot. He also was spending more time out of the house they had been living in, though he was still looking for a home for just the two of them, in an effort to show the other around the city and help him enjoy things...so he didn't miss his own home as much.
It wasn't out of pity, or feeling like he needed to comfort the other, everything he'd been doing was because on some level he cared about Sasha. At first it had been as a friend, as someone who wanted to help a stranger find their way, but things had grown. and now there was a relationship which Ian had never thought would happen for him - with anyone. It was a surprise date which had him bringing the other with him to get some of the special lanterns the city sold, knowing the other would enjoy something like this, It was the tie into nature which Sasha would appreciate and like, Ian knew how much the other cared for nature, and he was planning a follow up date to take him to the caves with the glowing bugs which provided the paste for the lanterns.
"Almost there, and before you ask we can buy several if you want." Several of what though he didn't say, it was a surprise, as he glanced down at the other.
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Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2025 8:58 pm
Following Ian along, Sasha kept hold of their hand and smiled. He'd been happy with things even after he'd found something worrying on his planet during the storm. With how vast the dead forest was, he knew he needed help, and he'd been trying to find people who might be able to help ever since he got back. But he'd also wanted to be close to Ian because he was worried. With those plants showing up, he'd been feeling more tired lately, and not just during the daylight hours. Looking up at the other, he nodded and smiled. "Close?" Asking as he noticed some little decorations and charms that were available to grab as they passed by various stalls. He saw so many of them and their colors kept pulling his attention. "Can I?" Looking back between the charms and Ian as he paused, he wanted to reach for one since the sign said they were free but he thought he should still ask first.
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Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2025 9:08 pm
"Of course, we can get whatever you want." He'd never been one for turning the other down when they wanted something, typically they were simple things which Sasha found interesting, there was no reason to turn down the other. It was rather cute to see him interested in things, so many things caught the others attention, it was like a small child with the awe the other seemed to show over various things.
"We can stop and grab some of the charms. I'm thinking you might like some of the lanterns as well." He was assuming the other knew about those, had heard about them, as they were rather popular in the city. Many people bought them and thinking about it, about where the glow came from, he wondered if he shouldn't take the other to the caves to see the caterpillars when he could. Maybe tomorrow night?
"Let's get you some charms than the lanterns. We'll make a night of this." He said while leading them towards one of the stalls which had a large collection of charms and various other things for sale. "Whatever you want." Because he had money, he'd done nothing but save for years really.
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Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2025 9:44 pm
Nodding, he went over to the stall and picked out a charm that he thought matched his hair the best, then tried to fiddle with it through the thumb hole in the hoodie he was wearing. The rest sounded good as well, he had heard about some of the things, but it wasn't something he'd seen last year. Mostly, it had just been the fireflies that had been zappy. Looking over the rest of the things on the table, he noticed some of the lanterns and little glowing decorations, which caught his attention more than anything else. One of which looked like a moth, and he gently tugged on Ian's sleeve before pointing at it and the set of lanterns that were pastel colors. While all the clothing he had from Ian was dark in color, he did like lighter ones; he just didn't want to not have the other's clothing, so it was something he had settled on, at least when it came to shirts and hoodies. "Pretty..." And if they did help bring more plants around, he wondered if some could be used on his planet for the same thing.
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Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2025 10:36 pm
Reaching forward to help Sasha with the charm, making sure it was secure, Ian did wonder if the other would ever get his own hoodies rather than just borrowing all of his. He didn't mind, it was amusing really and cute, but he did wonder if Sasha would wear a hoodie that didn't belong to Ian...if he'd wear any if Ian bought them for him.
"Oh!" Staring at the lantern the other was pointing out he nodded, already understanding what the other wanted. "It is pretty." And Ian was reaching for his wallet to offer the other his bank card. Maybe he should get the other a card that connected to his account...they knew how to use a card to pay for things, since he was going out with Sasha more he was helping the other get used to normal things. He even brought hiom grocery shopping at night, since the other did prefer being up at night, he did his best to bring him out at night and let the other sleep in during the day. It wasn't always easy, since he worked a day job, but when they had time which crossed over he spent it with the other, finding things for them to do together. "Why don't you pick one for me as well."
"I was thinking we could get a few actually...so pick whichever ones catch your eye. We're going to find a place, maybe in the park, to light them and send them off." Because the park was close enough to walk to, since they were on foot tonight, he didn't want to walk too far in order to light them and send them off.
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Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2025 10:46 pm
Taking the card, he looked between the lanterns and Ian for a moment while he compared things and thought. There were a few that had little blue designs on them, and he thought they sort of reminded him of wisps. After deciding, he nodded and smiled before hurrying towards the shop owner and pointing and explaining in a few simple words what he wanted. In the end there were the two that were for them and then a few others that reminded him of the friends he had, including Villon. While he knew they couldn't be around while like this, he still wanted to wish the man well and hope they didn't get hurt. Once everything was paid for and bagged up, he returned to Ian's side and offered back the plastic card. It was still odd to him that money was all in the computer and accessed through the plastic card. "Quiet park, lots of grass?" Something with open space so the seeds could scatter and grow well. Keeping the bag closed, he wanted to surprise them with what lantern he'd gotten for them. "Will show when there." Nodding again, he leaned into their side. He was glad that they'd finally understood about him wanting to try being close like he had been with Amel before, even if he was still trying to figure out this new world.
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Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2025 11:22 pm
Trailing behind the other Ian was glad to see them handling things, he was working with them on things. It was good that Ian had lots of books, and was good wit htech, he'd been downloading audio books for the other...all kidns of books. The account was loaded with points so Sasha could pick his own books as well, he was doing his best to help personally and with books. There was just so much to teach the other and help him with. It wans't as simple as a language barrier or a culture thing but a whole planet kinda thing. But every step was a good one, was one he was glad to see.
"Yeah, the big one in the city has more than enough space." It was nearly the size of central park in New York though it still didn't reach that size, that park was massive from what he'd seen online, but it would provide the space Sasha wanted. Pocketing his card he stuffed his wallet back into his pants pocket and offered a hand to the other.
"I can't wait to see it. If you want anything else along the way let me know, or just grab my card." He didn't mind if Sasha were to just grab his wallet and hurry off to get something, he trusted the other more than enough for that. Some people mmight not be so free with such things but Ian had no issues there. "We should take you planet shopping, we can fill up the house." Because the other would enjoy that very much, and he knew it, though Ian still wanted to get him into the idea of a home for just the two of them. They could have a backyard and a fronjtyard and Sasha could work with someone to set up a garden and such. Now wasn't the time for that talk though...soon though, soon he'd approach the topic again.
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