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 Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2022 9:19 pm
It had been a while since the attack on the hill, and while Leah–Aeleas–seemed to be settling in just fine, Starlight couldn't help but worry that she was lonely. She didn’t really seem to talk much about her people, and sometimes it felt like maybe she was deliberately avoiding it. He didn’t exactly know how to ask about it, and he wasn’t completely sure if he was right or wrong.
It wasn’t like him to meddle, but…
It felt like the sort of thing Whisler would have done.
Starlight didn’t know if she was homesick, or if she had friends, or if–
Oh, he didn’t know anything. He didn’t want to hurt Leah’s feelings. He wanted her to know that she had a family with them, and he wanted to support her in every way possible.
…So, he was looking for more Velencians. Not to snoop! Not to force anything on her! But just to know.
He didn’t want her to have to be alone if she didn’t want to be alone. He wasn’t going to force anything on her, but if she wanted…
He didn’t know. It felt wrong. He just wanted to help, even if he didn’t know what he was doing.
The best place to find a Velencian was going out and looking, and he’d come up short–but found a Super Senshi.
It was a good start.
“Hey, um! Hi, excuse me. I’m Starlight,” he said, in what he thought was a very friendly, normal introduction. He hadn’t really hurried over, but they’d gotten close enough that he thought it only polite to call out. “Can I bother you for a minute? It’ll just be quick. I’m looking for someone. Or someone’s, sort of, I guess. I don’t know.”
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 6:45 am
Tortali paused when the Squire called out to her, and smiled at him, giving a small wave. “Hi there yourself. Of course you can bother me, what’s up?”
Her smile grew wider, turning into a grin as she watched him, tilting her head to the side. “Who are you looking for? I can’t say that I’ll know where to find them, but I’m always happy to keep an eye out. That’s never a bother.”
Without really thinking about it, she drew out her senshi phone, just so she’d have a way to contact him once she…well. If she could find who he was looking for.
“If you have a description of them, that would obviously be a lot of help too, just in case they don’t feel like giving me a name. And…it is someone on our side of things, right? Another senshi or a knight? Because…I won’t go looking for chaos for you. That’s too dangerous for everyone involved. Plus, I’m much more of a fan of punching those involved with chaos…so. Playing nice and talking doesn’t really work.”
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 7:48 am
“Actually, um–no, none of those things. I’m kind of looking for um, any of the Velencians? I don’t have any one in mind, just sort of–well, any of them. I know they’re still on Earth, like they’re stuck here or something? But I haven’t really come across any of them while I was out patrolling. So like, I just wanted to know–you know,” he shrugged, and looked a bit helpless about the whole thing.
He didn’t know how to find someone who was in hiding, and who could pass for just about anyone.
But, if anyone could help him, he figured it was going to be a Senshi–and she was so nice, and friendly already!
It was a good idea to reach out to her; he was going to have to work on getting over his nervousness for meeting new people, especially when they were so polite and eager to help.
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 2:13 pm
Her expression changed at the mention of the Velencians. “God, you hate them too? I’ve been working so hard to get them to leave. I almost killed one the other day. Or I would have. If you’re in the mood to hunt with me, I bet we could even get a group together and we could get rid of all of them in one sweep, if we’re quick enough. They’re not that strong, and they’re all pretty stupid. At least the one I met was.”
There was a glint in Tortali’s eyes, and she sighed happily. “I hate them. I hate them for what they did. I hate how much that they destroyed. How much pain they brought with their ******** up trap. If I can wring each of their necks, I will. Happily.”
The idea of being able to exact her revenge on them…she knew that Anella would be willing…and she was sure she could get others to help. They could make a party of it and squash those alien bugs.
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 2:57 pm
Uhhhh, what.
It took Starlight a good few seconds to process what she’d said. She’d almost killed one? Okay, it was obviously a good thing that Leah was staying home.
“Um.”
Another few seconds.
“I’ve never actually murdered someone, so I think I might have to pass. I, um. Yeah, I’m not sure that I’m a killer, sorry. Uh. I don’t. Like the idea of hunting.”
Not animals, and not people, holy s**t.
“Like, um. I just sort of. I was going to ask them some questions. Um. Sorry.”
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 6:26 pm
Tortali’s smile slowly fell and she swallowed, scratching the back of her head and looking suddenly embarrassed. “I…uh. Okay I guess that was coming off a little strong but. They’re invaders. Because of them we lost so many good people. Either to death or corruption…you have to admit that they need to be stopped…right? You do think that way at least?”
There was a small bit of desperation in her voice. As though her hope rested fully on his agreeing with her.
“Even if they just left...I’d be okay. We don’t have to murder them…that…I did go overboard with that. I apologize for scaring you.”
That wasn’t to say that she wouldn’t still kill them if given the chance though.
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 7:43 pm
Starlight relaxed just slightly, but there was still something just a little bit guarded about him. He was a teenager though, who could blame him.
“Oh–yeah, no, I mean, it makes sense. That whole thing was really complicated. I still don’t really know what’s going on. But I know that most of the Vanguard didn’t really know what was going on. It was kinda just sprung on them. Most of them wound up really confused and in a garbage place. Do what they were told and risk hurting the people of Earth, or rebel and risk hurting their friends and family. It’s not an easy decision.”
He didn’t think Leah was a bad person. She hadn’t chosen this. She’d come to Earth to stop the Negaverse, to fulfill a mission.
She got dragged into a totally different one.
“I think a lot of them just want to go home? Maybe? I don’t know, I can’t find anyone to ask. But I don’t think they’re all bad. They’re just people too. Um, I mean. The ones that I met. I don’t know all of them, obviously. The ones I met didn’t seem like they wanted to invade. I, kinda, um. Well, I blame the Negaverse, mostly. But. They’re always up to no good, no matter who they’re using.”
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 8:17 pm
“I really think you’d be safer staying away from them. Even if some of them didn’t know what was going on…they still fought. When their leaders revealed what was happening, they didn’t stop. They’re monsters, each and every one.”
Tortali sighed and rubbed her hand over her face. “Look, kid. I don’t like them. I’m sorry if you still…think the world is great and wonderful…I don’t want…to deprive you of that. But…” She gave another sigh and shook her head. “Just be safe, okay? You’ll end up getting hurt, and we already lost too many people as it is. I’m sure you’re the light of someone’s life…so take care of yourself and just be wary. Don’t go looking for the invaders unless you’re sure that you’re not going to end up killed or corrupted. They might want to go home, but what if they’ve been told that the only way that they can is to keep killing and corrupting senshi? They’re all good little soldiers and…it wouldn’t surprise me at all.”
With a smile that was more of a grimace, Tortali reached out, ruffling Starlight’s hair in a friendly way. “I’m…going to leave now, before I end up upsetting you more, but just…think on my words. The idea of them hurting anyone else makes me sick. So…just be safe. Careful.”
She drew in a breath and gave a little wave before heading off, not wanting to listen to anything else the boy had to say, not wanting him to look afraid of her again, or sick at what she said.
It wasn’t a good feeling, to tell the truth.
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 8:41 pm
Starlight had immediately tensed when she touched his hair, and before she’d even turned away he was trying to fix it. He felt defensive, not for himself but for Leah–who didn’t deserve that hate. She was doing everything she could to fit in, to be a good person. She didn’t ask for this, and she deserved a chance.
Something like anger, or bitterness, churned in his stomach. He watched the Senshi leave and had to bite his tongue.
They hadn’t all fought. They weren’t all monsters.
He knew the world wasn’t great and wonderful. Most days, he was still surprised to wake up in his bed, in his room, with his family. Who had chosen him. Who looked out for him. Who gave him a chance.
He wasn’t going to give up. Leah was proof enough that the Senshi was wrong. Leah was good.
She deserved to be happy.
He didn’t feel safe often, but he was safe at home. He was safe with her.
Now, he really just wanted to make sure she stayed safe, too.
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