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 Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2024 7:03 pm
Julian suspected he knew what that look was for but smiled politely, as his mouth was full of a fresh bite. Though he was trying to pace himself, he was eager to cook another one.
It took him a moment to chew; he’d bitten off more than he meant to but he didn’t want it to go to waste. Lisse was right–this was far superior. He couldn’t get enough of it. Had he ever had anything over the grill? Was this what a barbeque was supposed to taste like? His mouth was watering for more and he still had at least two bites left.
When he swallowed, he had to take a few seconds to pace himself before his next bite. He wasn’t starving! And he wasn’t greedy! It was just so good.
“Um, it makes me happy too. I mean, sorry, I know I’m a little redundant! I have too many thoughts going in my head. Sometimes, um. Oh, sorry, I feel so bad talking so much about myself. It’s like a river that just keeps sloshing around in here,” he said, tapping his temple with his free hand.
“I don’t know how you put up with me, Luke! You have so much patience! I’m all over the place right now. I have all these thoughts and I can’t get any of them out. I don’t even know where to start. But, um. A little at a time isn’t bad, I don’t think. I’m not very good at talking on the phone, I don’t know why. Do your hands get clammy? Mine do, and sometimes they shake. But I like text messages. I like the emojis. Soleiyu made me a new phone, it’s really neat. I’m still getting used to it but it’s so much better than my old one. And I can send you notes!”
No, he was still all over the place. And still talking so much!
He needed to get back on topic. Or, at least, to a topic, so he didn’t just talk all over Lisse. Dering was chattier now than he usually was, either because he missed Luke or he was really just nervous about all of the big changes coming up. It was easy to see that Dering was clearly happy to be here tonight, though; he was tapping his toes together and there was a sparkle in his eyes.
“I’m sure you won’t have to work to make friends with them. They’re really friendly, too. Like you. I think you’ll all get along. Especially, um. You know, if we decide to do patrols together. They take that sort of thing really seriously. And they’re really good at looking after each other. Like you are. So I think, um. I think it’ll be okay. I’m sure they’ll make Azure welcoming. I’m excited to go to school with you again. Summer was a little lonely.”
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Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2024 6:03 pm
“You don’t have to apologize, I get it Julian. It’s all okay.” Lisse soothed, but then put the last of his hotdog into his mouth and looked at his friend with his cheeks puffed out as he chewed, nodding at the thought of texting over talking. It was easier that way, but he did like to here his friends voices too…still, if that’s what Julian wanted, that’s what he would do.
Swallowing the mass of bread and hotdog he gave a little cough and pulled out two sodas from his bag, holding one out to the other Knight. “I have water too, and like…gatorade! So whatever you’re thirsty for, I have something! I agree, about summer being lonely, I’m glad that we get to go back to school again. The best part of summer was the puppy but…”
He shrugged and opened his soda, taking a large gulp.
“The puppy wasn’t you and couldn’t talk to me! I’d like to go on patrols with all of you, and have them up here for more camping trips if they wanna come! I like texts too, I would have said as I was…chewing but. I might have bitten off more than I should have then. No regrets though!”
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Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2024 6:29 pm
As Dering watched Lisse eat the hot dog, he had to stifle a laugh. He raised a hand to cover his mouth but he couldn’t help how comical the sight was.
“No, this is good,” he promised, immediately accepting the soda. “Thank you.”
It took him a moment to adjust himself, but he cracked open the soda and took a long sip before setting it down where he wouldn’t spill it. Lisse had told him to help himself, so after a few seconds of agonizing internal debate, he got another hot dog and skewered it before angling it over the fire.
“Did you hang out with your brother this summer? Or visit any of your friends?” he asked. He was leaning forward, toes digging into the ground, but his attention was on Lisse. “You’re so good with people, I’m surprised you didn’t have a long list of people you wanted to catch up with!”
So far, he was very much enjoying this camping trip. He thought the others might like camping, too. Well–some of them. He didn’t want to assume anything. He still hadn’t experienced all of it. But roasting hot dogs was his favorite part of camping so far. But, um! I’m sure we can do some patrols sometime! We don’t always go in big groups, that can be kind of like putting a target on your back, but maybe we can do small groups at first. So you can get to know everyone. It’ll be much better if we can do it when there’s not something dangerous going on. A lot of us are going to Azure so I hope we can hang out there, too. I haven’t looked into anything but I think I might try to join some clubs. I want to make lots of friends. Which, um! I know it’s silly! I love the friends I have. I just, um. I’m excited to have a normal school experience. Were you in any clubs at any of your old schools?”
An owl hooted again and he tilted his head to listen to it. He couldn’t tell if it was any closer than before but he was certain he heard another one calling in response from a different direction.
He watched Lisse’s face afterwards to see if that was as exciting as the first hoot they’d heard.
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Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2024 6:49 pm
“It’s hard with the friends back home, I have to tell lies and lies to them, the best part about being here is being Lisse, and that’s the thing I have to keep from them…besides. They kind of never really reached out anyway. My brother and I have hung out a bit, and my cousin, but!” He couldn’t keep the grin off of his face as Julian took another hot dog and did the same, though paused when the sound of the owl came again.
The grin couldn't be hidden when it came again, and then let out a gasp as…the sound of wings came towards them both, and a…a paw came out, snatching the hotdog from his hand.
It wasn’t an owl. Not…not completely an owl It had wings! Beautiful wings from what he could see, and ear tufts
And markings of an owl but…the body of a cat. And the face of one. It fell to the ground and flopped, seeming to revel in the warmth from the fire pit as it gnawed at the stick of meat, a strange, hooting purr coming from it as it did so.
“...Oh…my gosh.” Lisse’s voice was soft, and he was absolutely and completely in awe of the creature.
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Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2024 12:47 pm
Though Dering had been nodding along with Lisse when he spoke, he flinched at the sudden flurry of feathers that came and went. He curled into himself for a brief second but cracked an eye to see what Lisse was fawning over.
His hot dog was too close to the flame and had blackened a bit but he didn’t mind; it wasn’t on fire. He’d have eaten it even if it was charred. Dering moved slowly, so as not to spook the strange creature that had just appeared.
He knew that you couldn’t really expect to find creatures exactly as they appeared on Earth, but this one was still different from what he expected. Cute! Probably! Except, he would have liked it a bit more if he could have been somewhere safe while they observed it.
He wasn’t very good with animals and it seemed like he was spooked by them for the most part. Julian had a gentle soul, so he was patient and gave the animals space. He didn’t expect anything from them; he wanted them to be safe. He was just afraid of doing something wrong and hurting them–or getting hurt, himself. He was learning, though.
“Are you okay?” he whispered. Lisse didn’t seem hurt, but that owl-creature had been so fast.
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Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2024 2:43 pm
“I’m okay! Don’t worry, it didn’t even try to hurt me…it’s like a cat? An owl cat…It’s so cute!”
For a moment, he just watched the animal, and then, slowly–carefully he withdrew another hotdog and put it on his fork, sliding it towards the fire.
Cats don’t like to be watched, at least he was pretty sure that was the case…and besides. It was a wild animal…even though he really wanted to pet it and love on it…
He was pretending that it wasn’t there. “I’m okay. It can have the hotdog, we have plenty, and honestly, that’s just one less we have to worry about, right?” Lisse looked over at Dering. “Are you okay? I saw you jump, it didn’t hurt you did it? Just move too fast?”
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Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2024 4:22 pm
“No, I’m okay!” Dering said quickly. His voice was still hushed and though he was looking at Lisse, his eyes occasionally dipped down to observe the creature for a fleeting second. He wasn’t quite facing it but he wasn't sure what he was supposed to be doing with it around.
“It just startled me. I, um. Maybe I’m still a little jumpy. I know Lisse is safe, it’s just, I don’t really like surprises. Even good ones.”
He flashed an apologetic smile; it was hard to be honest about these things. He didn’t want Lisse to think anything needed to be done about it. Really, Dering didn’t mind that it was here! And Lisse looked so excited!
And, now that his heart was returning to a normal pace, he could appreciate how cute it was, too!
Dering laughed at himself. “Sorry, Luke. I have a really active imagination, that’s all. Um, should we be careful? I don’t think you’re supposed to feed wild animals, but…”
Well, no, those were Earth rules.
“I guess it sort of decided it was going to feed itself, huh? I’ve never seen anything like that on Lysithea. It’s really not scared of you at all, is it?”
It didn’t have any reason to be scared, did it?
He smiled softly. “Do the other animals here come up to you like this?”
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Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2024 5:26 pm
“Nothing to be sorry for, Julian! It startled me too, I’m just glad you’re okay! And…not really. I haven’t…” Lisse turned his hotdog and thought of the best way to put what he was trying to say and finally settled on. “I haven’t been still? Like this? Long enough for them to come up to me? Like normally when I’m here I’m moving around or like, setting the campsite up…I’m busy and making noise and just…active?”
He hoped that made sense. It made sense in his own mind so…that would have to do for now. “I can’t…no, I guess it isn’t. It wouldn’t have seen a person before…like…huh.”
That was a strange thought. But…were they new animals? Just…pop evolution magical creatures? Was there…did they come as babies first? Had there been eggs?
“It’s…a lot to think about…but. I’m…kind of glad it’s not scared? Cause now we get to watch it.”
By now, the creature had finished the hotdog and was working on grooming itself, licking as a cat did, but with feathers puffing up as it preened.
“...Maybe one day it’ll let us pet it…it looks so soft…and that little feather tail…ah…Julian I love it already.”
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Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2024 6:27 pm
Dering did not do a good job of keeping his eyes to himself. Once the creature started making itself comfortable and didn’t have food to distract itself, he was more attentive to what it was doing. Lisse was far more frivolous with his hot dogs than Dering wanted to be so when his slightly-too-crisp hot dog was done on the fire, he pulled it back quickly, stuffed it in a bun, and held it protectively as he decorated it with a few condiments.
He wasn’t sure that he wanted to pet it but Lisse was so brave and friendly. And this was his Wonder! Maybe he was just naturally more in tune with the animals here.
Dering supported him, as long as he was safe. He smiled fondly at Lisse.
“I’m glad it’s not scared.” Well, as long as it didn’t start acting scary. “Do you want to take a walk around after we finish eating and see if we can find any more around?” Or make sure there weren't any hungry cat-bears or owl-wolves waiting for them to go to sleep. Just in case!
Lisse was too pretty to feel dangerous, but he’d feel better knowing. And you were supposed to walk a bit after you ate, weren’t you?
And, he wanted Lisse to be as happy as he looked now. If there was more life here, that was plenty to celebrate, wasn't it?
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Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2024 6:33 pm
“Yeah! I’d really like that! I want to show you the little cottage where I fixed everything up when everything…you know. Was falling apart! And the tulips won’t be open but they’re so pretty!” He hesitated. “Maybe tulips in the morning, those should have light. You deserve to see them in the light, and you will! We will!”
Though, a walk tonight would be nice…he had to do another in the morning too. Hopefully Julian would be up for it…and if they could find more of these little owl cats…that would be amazing.
“I’m glad that you’re not scared too, that’s important to me.”
He withdrew his hotdog and put it in the bun, taking a bite and grimacing, slipping the thing back onto the fork and putting it back to the fire. “...Ew.”
Flicking the piece he had bitten towards the now curled up creature, he grinned sheepishly at Dering. “...Are you having fun? Because, that’s important to me too…just in case I didn’t ever make that clear!”
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Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2024 6:38 pm
Dering laughed once more but he raised a hand to cover his mouth, as if to try and hide it from Lisse and the owl-cat. He didn’t want to scare it off but he couldn’t help himself when it came to Lisse’s reaction. He was glad he hadn’t had any food in his mouth at the time.
“Yeah, I’m having fun.” He wasn’t hard to please! Julian appreciated everything around him–Lisse, the Wonder, the food, the fire, Luke. He was having a good time, and even if he was nervous about a lot of the other things going on in his life, he was still at peace–even if he was sometimes looking at their new companion to make sure he hadn’t accidentally angered it or something.
“You fixed up a whole cottage and want to spend the night in a tent instead of there?” he asked. He didn’t sound judgmental, just curious. “I’m excited to see it. And all of your tulips. I wish I could show you Dering but it’s been so foggy every time I’ve gone up. It’s hard to show you much of anything when even I can’t see it!”
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Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2024 6:45 pm
“It was cold! It…ugh…” Lisse shuddered and gave a slightly apologetic laugh of his own. “I got too excited seeing yours and figured mine would be done too…I get a little impatient when I’m hungry….and. The worst part is…I’m not even hungry!”
His eyes flickered to the owl cat, and he watched as it sniffed the air and then rolled over, extending a paw and rolling the hotdog towards its mouth.
He wanted to take it home.
“I’m so glad. That makes me so happy…and…I mean. The cottage is still a mess! It is in no way fixed up at all, and the camping…was for the experience! I’ve missed it and you’ve never done it…but one day…maybe. One day I’ll fix the cottage up for real and you can stay there.”
Lisse paused and turned his hotdog again. “It’s at the base of a windmill, I think I left that part out. Which…is kind of cool. The windmill, I mean. Maybe I can get it working again one day too, that would be pretty fun! And yes please! I would love to see Dering! We can bring flashlights, and I don’t mind a little fog, I’d brave just about anything if it meant I could spend more time with you!”
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Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2024 7:04 pm
Dering laughed softly; he looked at his cooked hot dog, unbitten and offered it to Lisse. Even if Lisse wasn’t hungry, Dering didn’t know if he was just saying that to be cool about it or if he meant it. And how could he not want another one! They were so good! “Um, I burned it a little, I think. But you can have it if you want! I don’t mind waiting to make another one.”
He guarded it carefully, intent to make sure the cat-owl didn’t get any ideas to steal this one too.
“I don’t know if a flashlight will help but we could try! It’s like, um. Walking into a wall of smoke? You can illuminate the smoke but you can’t really see past it. Sometimes there’s this sparkly glitter in the fog, that’s pretty. But also when Stirling and I went up there, I fell down a hole and hurt myself a little. I don’t want that to happen to you. It might be better to bring a fan,” he said, but laughed nervously at the idea because he didn’t really think that would help either.
“I’m still trying to figure out if there’s any sort of consistency to it but I haven’t spent enough time up there. Oh! That’s another thing I’m looking forward to! I hope I can go up and visit Lysithea more often with Talia. I don’t know if she’ll have time or want to, but um–I hope!”
His eyes fell to the owl cat and he watched it contemplatively before returning his gaze to Lisse’s eyes. “Do you want any help cleaning up the cottage? If we’re going to visit tomorrow, we could spend a little time there.”
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Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2024 7:15 pm
“I’m good! It shouldn't be too long to warm up! Plus, the place where I bit will get nice and toasty!”
Lisse listened and tried to think of some way to help clear the fog….but he had nothing. Maybe…goggles? Did they make goggles to like…see through fog or mists? Maybe…
“I can get a few handheld fans, we can try it. My mind went right to goggles like…seeing under water and all that? Maybe…night…vision…goggles? Do those work in fog? I’ll google it when we get home.” He said the last part out loud because he was automatically reaching for his phone, but they were up in space, and honestly…that was just silly. “I hope she’ll bring you up, I hope…maybe she’ll take me too sometime! I’d like to see more than just here and Halle!”
He grinned and looked over at Julian, his expression warm, face lit by the fire. “I don’t have much to clean with, but yeah. I’d like that. We can figure something out at the very least…maybe some organization….get a plan together to start cleaning? I really want to spend some more time with you, so that’s an absolute yes! What we’ll get done, that’s to be seen, but it won’t be for lack of trying. Or for lack of enthusiasm.”
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Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2024 7:55 pm
Dering waited for a moment longer just to make sure that Lisse didn’t want it, and then he finally took a bite.
It wasn’t as good as the first one but he found that he didn’t really mind the crispy texture, either. It was still delicious. He wore a little smile as he listened to Lisse rattle off possibilities. He thought the fog might be too dense for night vision goggles but he wasn’t really even sure how those worked. Soleiyu might have some sort of idea. Would a fan just push more fan in front of them? Maybe they could at least control some of what they could see in front of them.
As long as they weren’t falling in holes or any other traps…
It was a given that he’d help clean up the cottage; he was excited to help however he could. He wondered if Lisse had any treasures hidden there, just waiting to be found.
“You should come over, um. I think I’ll be allowed to have friends over? But I’ll ask when I talk to Talia. If I am allowed to have friends visit, I hope you can come over and hang out.” He was nervously fidgeting a little. He hoped he wasn’t expecting too much of Talia and he hoped she wouldn’t think he was taking her or her house for granted.
He wanted to believe everything she said, and even if he was nervous he was so excited. His emotions were just constantly warring with each other. The good always won out, in the end.
“I can introduce you two. She’ll like you,” he promised. Luke seemed like he could make friends with anyone. Even cat-owl creatures stealing his food.
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