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 Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2021 12:57 pm
Quote: Prompt 2 (Paint the Night Sky): Destiny City has already had its fair share of snowfall but for the past week it’s just been constant. There hasn’t been a clear sky in days, and even when it’s not snowing it’s still too cloudy to see anything. Finally, one night, the clouds have finally thinned--only to reveal something more surprising than the suddenly good weather. A glorious display of colorful light dances over Destiny City. Auroras are uncommon in this area, but it’s something unique to see. Especially because it almost seems like the colors blend like watercolors, and look like they’re deliberately weaving around each other.
It had been cloudy for so long that Starlight was starting to forget what the sun was like, and he already had a hefty dose of the holiday blues and they weren’t even through the holiday season. Which, if he’d been honest, was rather frustrating, because this was the best holiday season he’d ever had. He had a home. A family.
A lot of bad memories, but he was working through that, and every day he was with his new family was another day to remind him of how good he had it.
Like, when Nick had come home and told him that not only had the clouds cleared up, but there was also a beautiful aurora outside. He’d eagerly invited Caius out, and they’d made a night of it already. They’d powered up, partly to be productive, and partly to fight the chill, and Starlight was just beaming.
Aeleas and Arias had stayed home and were trying some new recipes together, and Starlight was glad for the time with just Whisler just because–not that he’d admit it–he liked feeling special. He liked feeling like they could go out together, and it was a good time even if it was only the two of them.
They’d been to a few different places in the city, taking in the way the lights in the sky seemed to change based on what area they were in.
“I want to paint it,” Starlight said again, the third time that night. He was staring up at the colors swirling in the sky from where they’d stopped–a clearing in the park, this time.
“Or make stickers, or something. I don’t know. I like it, it’s really pretty. I’m going to do that when I go home. It looks like magic, doesn’t it? I’ve never seen it in person before.”
He was tapping his paintbrush on his leg, and his lips pursed like he was already thinking about an empty canvas just waiting for attention.
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Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2021 11:04 am
Whistler nodded. “It does look like magic, yeah. It’s fantastic. Maybe we should figure out how to decorate some cookies or cupcakes to match it, for a special thing? Do you think that would sell?” It would obviously sell. All of their baked goods sold nowadays and so quickly too. “Maybe we could come up with a new mascot to sell them? A cute little…bat or something? An Aurora Bat with…his wings filled with it? I don’t know, that’s all I can think of. Since you know. I’m super creative.”
He chuckled and hesitated before wrapping an arm around the younger knight’s shoulders, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. “I haven’t seen it in person before either, It’s amazing. And I’m glad I get to see it with you.”
He was always so glad for everything he got to do with his son. It was always so wonderful. “How have you been? Are things going okay? You’ve seemed a little…withdrawn recently.”
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Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2021 3:06 pm
Starlight seemed a bit flustered with the kiss atop his head, and then the arm around his shoulder. He turned a bit pink at the accusation that he seemed withdrawn.
“I’m fine,” he huffed, “I’ve just had a lot on my mind. This time of year is,” he paused and shrugged. “I don’t know, weird.” He rubbed at his arm uncertainly and chewed on his lower lip. “I don’t think I can explain it. But I’m fine.” That time, he almost sounded a bit more honest, and he forced a smile as he looked up at Whisler.
“I’m not so good at being open like the rest of you, I’m still trying to figure it out. You’re all so loud, too,” he teased, nudging him with his elbow. “I like your idea, though. You think Arias will make let me make bats this time of year? I was thinking about doing something gold and sparkly for new years, but I haven’t figured it out yet. I don’t know, I already feel bad about Arias having to wake up so early, I notice he’s out of bed half an hour earlier to decorate things.”
Not that Arias had complained about it, and everything was selling for well enough, but still. He felt bad–and maybe it was a little obvious by his somewhat furrowed brows and worried expression.
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Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2021 4:34 pm
Glancing down at him, Whisler smiled softly. “Yeah, I get it. Sometimes I wonder if you’re still scared that we’ll change our minds, especially at this time of the year…but, soon enough you’ll really realize that it won’t ever happen. Plus now you have your new sister to deal with…it’s been a lot of changes. And Starlight, I think Arias would let you make anything at any time of the year. And I think that the bats could be super cute. There’s no rule that bats have to be creepy…right?”
He glanced back up towards the aurora and sighed softly. “He works so hard. You all do. I’ve been trying to help out more too, but I don’t have the decorating touch, which…I wish I did! You know I tried to make one of the rabbit cream puffs once…ah. You didn’t happen to see the end result, did you? I’m very good at making things taste great, but looking as good as Arias does…”
Whisler sighed and shrugged. “I just don’t have the gift. But, it works out for all of us, I think. Now we need our Leah to find her passion in the world…”
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Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2021 5:17 pm
“She’s been doing pretty good in the kitchen,” Starlight suggested, just so he didn’t have to agree that Whisler seemed to already know exactly where his concerns were stemming from. He was still scared that they were going to change their minds, that he was suddenly going to be more of a burden than he was worth.
Especially now that they had Leah too, and she was sweet and likable.
He toed at the ground a bit and ran his thumb along the edge of his paintbrush; some days it felt like he’d worn a groove into it. It felt that way tonight.
“You’re good around the bakery, too. Even if you can’t do the things Arias does exactly, he’s always talking about how much you do for him. How helpful it is to have you at the counter, and how much he appreciates you. I wish I could have seen your cream puff. I tried baking and mine was totally flat. The second time, it exploded. I felt so bad, I tried to clean it all up before Arias came in. I thought I did, but I didn’t realize it was in my hair so I got caught. He’s such a good sport about it, all of this feels so unreal. Oh–but my Halloween bats were cute, right? You don’t think it’s too soon to do more? I have some sketches that I didn’t use, I could just recolor them. Um. I’ll show you when I get home,” he said, and there was that little tingle of hope–and worry–that came with every new piece of art. Maybe Nick would love it, maybe he’d say it needed to be better. Starlight didn’t know, he just wished he could do more, be more. He wished he could realize his insecurities were invalid sooner rather than later, if Whisler was serious about it.
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Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2021 6:40 pm
Whisler smiled and nodded. “She is. She’s doing her very best, I think. And I know that she wouldn’t be doing half as well if not for you, kid.” He chuckled and watched him for a moment, nodding. “Baking isn’t easy! Just like art isn’t easy, though Arias…the snot. He knows how to do both, and that’s just gross and unfair! But, oh, I wish I had been there to help you with the puff! We would have had fun. You and I should bake sometime. I bet we’ll make something. Not sure if it’ll be good or horrible, but it’ll sure be something.”
Hesitating, Whisler reached for Starlight’s paintbrush, tugging it from his hands and looking at it, humming. “Star, you try so hard, and I am so proud of you, but really…I hope that you know that I would love you no matter what. If you had no talents, no class, no nothing, I would love you. I’ve cared for you since the moment we met. You became a page to save me…how could I ever not care for you?”
He placed the brush back in the Page’s hand and kissed his forehead. “You are, and will always be more than enough.”
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Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2021 7:34 pm
Starlight couldn’t place why, but the paintbrush felt wrong in his hands; when it was returned, it slid from his fingers and he fumbled to catch it but it landed on the ground. “Oh, sorry,” he said sheepishly, and knelt to get it.
Partly, it was to get the paintbrush. Partly, it was to hide from the affection and the praise. He still wasn’t used to it, and to be honest, he wasn’t all that sure he’d deserved it. Would he have been worth keeping around if he wasn’t capable of helping the bakery? Would he have caught their attention if he hadn’t imposed?
…If he hadn’t been a Knight?
His head was swimming with the myriad of thoughts, but he had to stop himself from thinking about all the ways this could have gone wrong because things hadn’t gone that way–they’d gone right.
He didn’t feel his outfit change, didn’t really even seem to understand why his paintbrush seemed like it was bigger. When he stood up he was frowning, examining the difference. It didn’t feel right to twirl between his fingers, and the spot he’d been wearing away with his worrying was completely gone.
“Um. I don’t think I say it enough but thank you. You’re really great. I don’t always understand you, but I appreciate you. So I just want you to know that.”
He held one hand open and tapped the tip of his–strangely–longer paintbrush against the palm of his hand.
He hadn’t felt his change from Page to Squire. He wasn’t looking at his own outfit, and he didn’t feel any different. Maybe he might have, if his head wasn’t swimming with praise and his face wasn’t burning from the compliments, too.
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Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2021 7:16 pm
Whisler nodded. “I wouldn’t…” He paused, glancing down at the Page…no. Squire, a grin spreading across his face as he took in the new outfit, the improved paintbrush…and the crystals that adorned his son’s hair. It was a perfect match for those that were in his own.
“Starlight. I am so proud of you, my little Squire.”
He drew the boy into his arms and hugged him tightly. “It looks like your Wonder thinks you’re ready to be stronger. I would never change what we have done. I would never change meeting you. Not for anything in the world. And now you and I…and Arias and Leah. We can all better protect the city. The Earth…everything. Starlight, Squire of Polaris…”
It sounded wonderful when said out loud. And he was ever so proud. His son…was simply the world.
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Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2021 7:49 pm
Starlight seemed like he’d completely blanked, or like he’d expected that Whisler had lost his mind. Except, something clicked in the hug, and maybe it was because he realized the outfit felt different–he felt different.
Stronger.
Still confused, but–
Whisler was proud of him.
His Wonder had rewarded him–with more power? More responsibility? It thought he was ready?
…He wanted to better protect the city. Wanted to better protect his family.
For a few seconds, Starlight was tense, and then he relaxed into the hug and returned it.
“...Thank you,” he said, voice muffled in Whisler’s coat. “I’ll try not to let you down.”
He wasn’t sure that he’d done enough to deserve a promotion, but…
There was a lot he wasn’t sure about. Maybe Whisler, maybe his Wonder, just knew better than him.
He was willing to trust them.
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