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 Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 11:14 am
prompt It wouldn’t be a star festival without a meteor shower! Right on time, a beautiful array of shooting stars graces the night sky. Most meteor fragments appear to be little white or yellow lights streaming across the sky, but if you watch closely enough you may find that some of them seem to be pink, blue, and even purple in color. The scientists have reported that it’s just different components burning up as they enter the atmosphere, but there’s something undeniably magical about it.
Nataniel slipped his fingers between the fabric of the curtains just barely enough to allow him to peek between them. The night sky was dark, speckled only with tiny pinpricks of white light from the stars above. There did not seem to be anything unusual about them, but then, there rarely did.
It was more the homes and businesses at ground level that seemed odd. Nataniel lived near the campus, a place notorious for maintaining as many lights as possible even during the summer, in case students attending classes needed to access the library or common labs. Light helped people feel safe as they traveled between the buildings or their vehicles. It was no trouble to keep outdoor lamps lit and side lights on. But they weren't now.
The other apartments in Nataniel's area had similarly doused all their lights.
Keeping things dark helped to better see the array of falling stars that were expected to dot the sky that night, and the city had very helpfully turned off all but the most necessary lamps. It would have been a perfect night to go draining. The darkness would cover them, and there were sure to be people out and about to watch the spectacle...
But that was not on Nataniel's agenda for the evening.
He was dressed and ready to head out, clothed in an airy purple shirt and a long, pale sari. It was something his mother picked out, and something Nataniel still had many reservations of. But it was dark outside, and he was likely to go mostly unseen. Comfort would be priority. He pulled away from the window and moved toward the door, tapping his foot a bit impatiently as he waited. "We will miss it if you are not quick," he rumbled in warning to the other party in the room. "Did you pack snacks?"
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2020 6:01 pm
Excited couldn't begin to describe just how December felt about tonight! He fluttered around the kitchen like an over hyped-up hummingbird, making sure everything was neatly packed away in his bag. Snacks, a blanket, some wipes, some bug spray... He tried to keep in mind everything they might need to make their night as comfortable as possible.
"I did! I got everything, so I'm good to go!" His own clothing was of a similar airiness, harem pants with a shirt that hugged his frame surprisingly well. Nothing he would have thought to pick out himself, but now that he had it, he loved it. It felt as if he could nearly fly away with it all!
But of course, they were planning to to on a ride, so he grabbed a light jacket too, before going to Nataniel, who was so kindly waiting for him.
This time last year, the darkness seemed far too scary to ignore... And yet good things came from that... A bond he didn't expect, and more happiness than he could shake a twig at.
Even now, he was happy, taking Nataniel's hand and pulling it to his lips. "Thank you for taking me. Let's get going!"
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Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2020 11:37 am
It would've been more convenient, Nataniel was sure, if they had opted to enjoy the expected meteor shower from home. They could have stood out on the balcony with something fruity, bubbly, and alcoholic to drink. Or maybe they could have walked to the campus, where Nat felt certain there would be some kind of viewing event hosted by the astronomy club- It would likely be busy there, though. Surely at least a handful of senshi had decided they were interested in the stars after awakening. He didn't want to be around a goofy, awestruck crowd, fawning over the thought that their world was out there, somewhere.
This would be more peaceful, at least, even if it was more work in the long run. And it was close enough to his childhood home that even though Nat didn't venture out of the city proper often, he didn't think he'd have much trouble finding somewhere more secluded from anyone else.
His gaze scraped apraisingly over December's bag, but since he couldn't see exactly what the other man packed, he'd just have to trust that it was anything they'd need. So he gave a nod and let his knuckles skim along December's cheek and down his neck as his lover released his hand after the light kiss. "It is no trouble this time," he murmured softly. "But we better get moving now."
He set out, taking his keys (that had been adorned with a glistening purple charm in honor of the festivities - it was only to make his keys more visible, truly) and locking the door behind them as they left. He own outfit wasn't ideal for the bike ride, being essentially a skirt, but tight black leggings beneath it and a pair of tall boots still protected his legs from the heat his motorcycle put off. And the sari he could hike up and tie at his waist for the time being. It shouldn't be any extra trouble for December to hold onto him, as he usually did when they rode. The trip wasn't long, besides, only about fifteen minutes, and Nataniel parked at the edge of a scattering of trees along the side of the road once they were 'close enough.' He dismounted and dusted his attire back into place.
"We have a bit of a hike still before we reach anywhere that will allow us a good view. If your bag starts feeling heavy, I will carry it for you," he offered as he gestured toward the narrow, upward path through the trees.
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Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 9:28 am
No trouble this time. Good! December simply smiled and nodded at that, following Nataniel to the bike. Things went so much more smoothly when he simply accepted things, rather than doubt every single notion that something had some alternative meaning. He became happier that way, everything seemed better. And it would just keep getting better, that he knew.
The ride went smoothly, and he had become confident enough, felt safe enough riding behind Nataniel that it was more than enough to simply has his hands resting on Nat's hips as he gazed out at the lights they sped past. Everything was dark, which made sense, given that all the lights were turned down for the festival. How could a simple change in lighting make the world feel so surreal?
Once they arrived, December followed off the bike, stretching and looking around the darkness. There was a tiny bit of unease, but it was brushed aside when he remembered that these days the things that went bump in the night were under his control. No reason to be afraid of it!
"Oh, sure, thank you. I think I'm okay for now. How'd you learn about this place?" Just because he was comfortable didn't mean he knew exactly where they were headed. It was times like these where it simply made sense to slip his hand into Nataniel's, giving it a little squeeze as an encouragement to lead on.
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Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 12:17 pm
"I lived near enough when I was still with my parents," Nataniel replied with a nod toward the road. If they'd kept going, maybe they would've wound up in his old neighborhood. "They still live there with my younger brother, so there are... a few scattered occasions where I am able to make it down this way. But when I was much younger, I was more," he hesitated a beat as he searched for an appropriate word. "Interested, I think, in exploring places like this. That was before I had my own computer or Dusk." It felt like a different time, thinking of back then. If he'd been younger than eight, it would've even been before Ellian was born...
That may have been a lifetime ago.
There were no lights of any variety here. The trees and hills hid any residences that may have been in the mountains, and the road was a small, country road with no streetlamps to speak of. The only thing to light their way through the trees would be the stars and moon.
And flashlights. Nataniel pulled one out of a storage compartment on his bike and handed it to December. His phone had its own beam he could use, but he didn't know how useful December's would be in that regard. "We should step carefully," he cautioned. "Even if it is night, it is still warm. There may be snakes out. Be careful where you step." And the path itself was quite narrow, prone to gnarled tree roots interrupting it. It would be embarrassing to trip and twist an ankle before they got there.
He flicked on his light, gave his bike a quick once-over to ensure he wasn't leaving anything behind, allowed December to take his hand, and led on.
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Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 11:02 am
"Huh, so they're pretty close. That's pretty cool, I think. And I understand, we grow up, change what we like, and the things that interested us before not so much. I'm like that with bugs. When I was little, I really liked collecting them, and showing them off to my brothers and sisters! Now... Not so much. I like being clean." Back then, catching bugs was much more like smacking his hands together to catch something, which often resulted in a very messy squished mess.
... That was a life time ago too.
But it wasn't bad at all! It was excited, seeing all the stars through the trees as they headed deeper into the darkness. Worse case scenario, if they really were worried about snakes, he could power up and summon Shoal to investigate. That youma seemed content to bite anything it could that seemed to be a threat.
This was a fun trip though! Not work! So that was an emergency only sort of situation.
So far, he only stumbled once or twice, quickly catching himself before it got too out of hand. It was clear December was a city kid, and out of his element here.
"Almost there, right?'
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 3:53 pm
"I suppose I have never really enjoyed..." He lifted his free hand to gesticulate, his long digits curling in a tense way that suggested disgust. He flicked his fingers. "touching most things." He had never liked bugs or mud or chasing baby ducks and frogs down by the pond like the other children his age had. And he'd been too young to even think it strange that while they enjoyed smashing their hands into food or animals or each other, Nataniel had recoiled from the thought. And when they'd tried to take his hand then, he'd pulled away.
Because their hands were hot and sticky and smelly and caked in filth and sweaty. Why were they always so sweaty? It had always been gross. It had always been unpleasant. He hadn't wanted anything to do with it then, and that was still mostly true.
Mostly.
"It is a bit different now, though," he murmured in a tone softer than the wind, slipping his hand free of December's so he could trace a feather-light touch up the younger man's arm and across his shoulders, tousling lightly at the ends of snowy hair. "There are, obviously, things that please me to feel against my skin."
The trees thinned, before breaking away completely to reveal a lushly-grassed hillside, sporting tiny, pale dots where flowers remaining from spring had not quite wilted away. Behind them were towering evergreens, but before them was a hill that stretched out for about twenty yards before cutting down into a dangerous crag that plummeted to more trees below. Here, there was little to block the view, and they were secluded enough, and far enough away from the city proper that none of the glow of Destiny City could be seen.
The sky was an inky purple, threaded though with hints of pink and blue, with stars like a dusting of glitter in the distance. Nataniel moved to find a spot in the grass. "Did you bring the blanket?"
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 5:40 pm
December could rather clearly imagine that. A small Nataniel making a disgusted face at anything that was anything less than 'normal' to touch. Some people had those sorts of sensory issues, and had really bad reactions to it, like how he couldn't stand being sweaty or sticky for any long periods of time.
But people changed... They grew up and adapted because life didn't make it so convenient to avoid those sorta things. And, well, some things were worth being uncomfortable for.
He did blink in confusion at the lose of Nataniel's hand, only to close his eyes and enjoy that touch for just a moment. Goosebumps were left behind in their wake, and he forced himself to blink again to continue to their little spot. "Yes... Definitely. I'm... Well, I'm really happy that I can be one of those things."
What arrived before his eyes left him wordless for once, as he took in everything bit by bit. The flowers, the stars, the soft grass beneath his feet... Everything was beautiful, almost story-book like. A sight that not even his dreams could come up with.
"O-oh, yes!" He snapped out of his daze, pulling his gaze away from the sky above to the bag on his shoulder. Within seconds he pulled it out and offered it over, looking back up again. "Thank you for bringing me here. I.. I don't think I would have ever seen anything like this if it weren't for you." And he would thank him time and time again, until they finally went home, and curled up together, happy and content.
Perhaps for the last time...
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