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 Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 10:07 am
Aliez glanced over at the flower that was now tucked behind Lyon’s ear, and a faint, nervous laugh escaped before he could stop it.
“I do know a little about flower language,” he admitted. “My friend -- the one who works at the shop -- he told me about it not long after we arrived on Earth. White carnations are for… purity, I think. And new beginnings. And, um…” His words faltered, his cheeks flushing a shade darker. “Sincere love. I didn’t think about it when I handed it to you. I just, well, I think they’re peaceful. I thought you might like one.”
He glanced back down at the Source Stone on his wrist, using his thumb to idly trace the edge as his smile faded.
“If the Negaverse stops finding us useful…” he started, but his voice trailed off. The question lingered between them for a moment, feeling too heavy to actually think about. “I don’t think it would end well. Lyndin-- our Commodore -- he’d never let them hurt us without a fight. But even he can’t protect everyone forever.”
Aliez was quiet for a moment, then forced out a small breath to steady himself.
“Maybe we’d find a way out. Or maybe we wouldn’t. I try not to think about it too much,” he said softly, glancing back up at Lyon. “It’s easier to hope that we can stay valuable enough to keep the peace a little longer. Or that people like you will keep talking to us, instead of turning away.”
There was a moment of hesitation before continuing, almost sheepishly. “For what it’s worth… I’m glad I met you.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 10:08 am
Lyon leaned back while he listened, watching Aliez with an intent gaze. There was nothing fierce about it but it was calculating. Shrewd. A tense smile lingered on his face while he spoke of the Negaverse, but softened when Aliez’s tender gaze found its way back to Lyon’s eyes.
“I’m glad I met you, too, Aliez.” His fingers rose to brush against the soft petals of the carnation, briefly, like he wasn’t committed to drawing too much attention to it. He just wanted to make sure it was still there. “I do like this, thank you. You’re right about what they stand for, I’m glad your friend told you.”
Well, mostly. It might have been fun to see Aliez squirm when Lyon shared its meeting, but it had been entertaining to see him draw the conclusion himself. “White Carnations are also for good luck.”
Aliez might have needed luck more than Lyon but he wasn’t giving the flower back. He had something else in mind.
For next time.
“I’m pretty lucky, myself. So maybe if you stick close to me, some of it’ll spread to you, too.”
Lyon leaned forward to pat Aliez’s arm reassuringly, lightly. A little playfully. “It doesn’t hurt, does it? Show me.” He didn’t know how it worked so offered his hand. “You can have some of my energy. I just need enough to get home. I was going to go to bed after this, anyway. And maybe, when I’m a little more healed up, you can tell me what else you need to stay valuable enough to keep the Negaverse off your a**. So you can keep working on saving your home.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 10:09 am
Aliez looked up at Lyon again, a little startled by how easily it was for him to offer himself, and for just a moment, all he could do was stare at the outstretched hand.
“Thank you,” he said quietly, the words carrying more weight than just simple politeness. He gently removed his Source Stone from his wrist, cupping it carefully between his palms as if it was something precious -- it was. The pale glow pulsed faintly, as if echoing his own heartbeat.
“You don’t have to give much,” he murmured, lifting it so Lyon could see it better. “When you touch it, you’ll feel a pull. But it’s you who controls how much you give. Not me. I prefer it this way. I’ll be keeping check of the levels the whole time to make sure you don’t give too much. I’d never take energy without consent.”
He glanced from the stone up at Lyon again, his eyes softer now as he held the stone between them.
“When you’re ready, just press your fingers to it. Think of how much you’re willing to give, and it will listen. It won’t hurt, but it will make you feel tired,” he explained. Then, a bit sheepish and shy, but still sincere, he continued. “And… if white carnations really do bring good luck, then I hope you’re right about it spreading. I think I could use a little of that. And thank you, again. Not just for this, but for listening as well.” ’
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 10:09 am
“Oh, any time,” Lyon said easily, diverting his attention from Aliez to the stone. “You’re easy to listen to. We should do this again. I’ll give you a report on how that cream works or something. We can catch up, you can tell me all sorts of fun stories. I’ll tell you the good ones, too.”
He curled his finger like he had to test its functionality and then stretched it out, poking the stone. The contact was small and he could have easily pulled away. He didn’t, at first. If he had to describe the sensation, it felt like two magnets snapping together.
The first time he pulled back was easy. There was no resistance whatsoever. But, when he stuck his finger out again, he poked the stone. Not quite hard, but certainly with insistence.
He pulled back. Poked again.
The fourth time, he stayed in place, just taking in the strange sensation. Lyon had plenty of energy to give, so that wasn’t the problem.
He could tell, rather quickly, how effective this would be as a sleep aid. He was already resisting the urge to yawn, and he could feel the distant fog of fatigue creeping closer.
“What are you gonna use my energy for?” he asked, watching as the stone began to shift colors slightly. He wanted to keep himself awake, alert, for as long as possible. Talking made that easier. “Got any cool projects you’re working on, or still figuring things out? How’s your little robot buddy?”
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 10:10 am
Aliez watched closely as Lyon interacted with his Source Stone. He smiled softly as Lyon poked it a few times before getting settled.
When Lyon asked his question, Aliez hesitated, before letting a quiet breath escape.
“Nothing dangerous,” he promised, a little sheepish. “I was hoping to use what you’re giving to adjust some of the sensors in Holly.” He brightened up a little as he said her name. “She’s the little project you saw. Well, more like my little companion. I’ve been trying to program her to help locate potential energy wells. I think if we can find natural concentrations, it might mean we won’t have to rely so much on donations,” he explained, his tone softening a little as he watched the Source Stone pulse with Lyon’s energy.
“It feels better that way. Safer… for everyone.”
He paused for a moment, and then glanced up at Lyon once more. Since he knew flower language…
“I named her after a plant from here. Holly. My friend, Vyn, told me it’s supposed to mean protection and resilience. I liked that. I want her to be something that helps keep people safe -- Velencian or human,” he said, smiling again, a bit shy but hopeful. “So thank you. I think your energy will help her reach a little farther.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 10:10 am
“Oh, I like that idea. That sounds really neat. Hey, when you get that all figured out, you want to come up and visit my place with me?” he asked, though he hadn’t even yet been there himself. On one hand, he was definitely getting ahead of things. On the other hand, why not take off running? He knew Knights had Wonders, he’d been to a few already. He had to have one, too.
He knew they had magic. And if other Knights floundered to figure out things for their Wonder, why shouldn’t he ask this very helpful, very kind, very clever Velencian to assist him?
Well, it was a project for another day. The future had endless possibilities.
“Vyn, he’s the one who works at the flower shop?” He didn’t need an answer, he could put two and two together. Even if he was stifling another yawn. “I think that’s a cute name. Oh, Holly, too. Very symbolic. What is she to you? Like–a child?”
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 10:10 am
Aliez glanced up, almost startled. Not by the yawn, but by the invitation. “You’d let me visit your Wonder?”
The question came out a little breathless, like he wasn’t entirely sure he’d heard correctly. Then, after a moment, his expression softened into something quiet but delighted.
“That’s… very kind of you, Lyon. I’d love that. It would be an honor,” he smiled, eyes warm. “I could bring Holly when she’s ready. She’d like that, I think.”
The smile faltered just a little when Lyon asked what she was to him. Aliez glanced down at his hands, his fingers absently brushing the edge of the Source Stone.
“Not a child,” he said quietly. “And not a pet, either. She’s… a project. A tool, in a sense. But she’s also something I’m putting a lot of myself into. My time, my hopes, my heart. If she ever finds a way to exist beyond the programming I gave her… then I suppose she’d carry a little bit of me with her.”
There was a pause, then he added with quiet gratitude, “And… thank you. For the offer, and for trusting me. I’d really like to see your Wonder one day.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 10:12 am
Lyon flashed a slow, lazy grin. “Well,” he shrugged. “What are friends for?”
He let the declaration hang in the air, let it have its space and expand in the silence. They could be that, couldn’t they?
This wasn’t just a ‘you scratch my back, I scratch yours’ situation–although, it could be. If Aliez needed a ‘no strings attached’ to fall back on.
But Lyon didn’t.
Why shouldn’t he be friends with a magical space alien? It wasn’t like he had all that much to offer on his own–what, did Aliez want some pasta? Some bruschetta, some tiramisu?
Lyon liked to think he could bribe him with food but it seemed a paltry offering considering Aliez could heal him. But Aliez wanted energy, and Lyon could only cook up so much of that at once. But his Wonder, well. That was untapped potential, wasn’t it?
…He just had to get there, first.
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