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 Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2022 9:15 am
It wasn’t uncommon for Starlight to be out at this hour, he just usually had some sort of company. Except, Nick and Arias were having something of a date night, and Leah was hooked on some new Chinese drama. He didn’t mind going out on his own, he’d really only meant to go to the store to pick up some snacks. Sweets were good, but he’d had far too many of Arias’ new sugar cookies in the past week and he needed something salty, and savory. Leah, too, but he knew how invested she was in the current arc of her show so he’d volunteered to grab her some while he was out.
…Except, on his way back, something started to feel off.
Maybe it was just a stray cat. Or, maybe it was a youma. He wasn’t going to take any chances, so he found a good place to sneak off to and powered up.
He’d walked, because it was a nice night, but the nearest convenience store hadn’t had any of the snacks he wanted so he took it upon himself to head to the one ten minutes away.
It would be worth it if Leah’s show kept going down the path he thought it was going to. She might need comfort food.
Powering up wound up being a good idea; he felt the energy signature of a Corrupted Senshi nearby immediately and went on the defensive.
He was a Squire. He wasn’t weak. He had magic he could use if he needed to run, and home wasn’t too far away. There were plenty of places to hide if he needed to, so he wasn’t afraid.
Just on edge.
He exited the alleyway he’d used to conceal himself when he became Starlight, and kept a wary eye on his surroundings to make sure no one snuck up on him.
If he was lucky, he’d get out of this without any trouble.
Starlight had used up a lot of his luck when he met Nick, though, so he wasn’t holding his breath when it came to having a trouble-free evening.
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Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2022 7:56 pm
Tristan still enjoyed going on patrols, and when she felt the aura flare up out of nowhere, she couldn’t stop a grin, and just had to go see who it was.
Now that she was stronger, now that she could teleport, she felt much more comfortable going out alone. Her feelings for Gwen were strong, and she adored Mizuki, but sometimes she wanted a patrol that was quiet and…well.
Civilized.
Though, when she saw the long blonde hair and familiar outfit of the Squire who had been her friend, the corrupted super paused and gave a small, uncertain smile. “Starlight! I’m so glad to see that you’re looking well, friend.” Of course, there was the question of if he still considered her a friend but…
If he attacked…if he was angry or unhappy with her…
…She could and would defend herself.
Tristan might not like it, but she could.
“I hope that my eyes aren’t deceiving me and that you are well?”
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Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 11:01 am
Starlight froze. The blood in his veins was unmoving, his heart forgot how to pump.
All thought stalled and he forgot how to breathe.
Tristan.
Who he hadn’t known very long, but who he had been so excited to meet, to make a new friend. He’d looked forward to having someone he could go patrol with. He’d made a friend.
And then, she’d left.
She called him friend, still.
But things were different from how they’d been the last time they’d met.
She’d corrupted, now.
“Tristan,” he greeted, and tried so hard to figure out if he was happy or disappointed. Should he be worried? Should he be afraid?
How much did she remember?
His mouth was dry, cottony.
“...I’m okay,” he finally answered, because he’d been upset for a while. It had been hard to process what had happened. Was still hard to process.
But she was here, now. Talking to him.
“...How are you doing?”
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Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 12:05 pm
Even though Tristan wanted nothing more than to hug him, to ease away the unhappy expression on Starlight’s face, she kept a small distance. Obviously he was unhappy, and she had no desire to make it worse for him. “I’m doing wonderful, and I’m glad to hear that you’re okay. I’ve worried about you, like I said. I’ve grown now! We’re on the same level of things, and I think that’s wonderful for us!”
Definitely wonderful for her, but…if he truly thought she was his enemy now…perhaps not so wonderful for the poor Squire.
“I’m happy. My girlfriend and I are so very happy…it was the right choice for me, I think. Being with her. It’s nice to have structure too, I don’t feel as forgotten as I did when I was with the White Moon and…I don’t know. The sudden hair growth is quite nice too. I feel very pretty.” She tossed the long purple strands back behind her shoulder and hesitated. “...I’m so glad I’ve gotten a chance to see you again. And I’m so sorry I was such a coward with not telling you about my decision.”
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Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 4:38 pm
He nodded slowly when she said she was doing wonderful. She seemed so happy. Like she didn’t have a care in the world. There was something selfish that prickled at his heart–a scratch at the back of his throat, into his chest, around his heart. His lips were pressed together as he considered this emotion.
It was jealousy. It was guilt. It was grief. Sadness. Helplessness.
All rolled into some dark, sticky emotion that clouded his thoughts.
She talked about being pretty so flippantly, like this wasn’t even something she had to take seriously. So, maybe he was taking it too seriously.
“No, it’s all right,” he said slowly. Carefully. It was all right. They hadn’t known each other that well. They were new friends. Hardly had time to get to be anything more than that. She’d made a choice between feeling forgotten in the White Moon and a girlfriend that she must have loved. She said she was happy, it was the right choice. For her.
But, she was with Chaos, now.
The Negaverse.
The evil in the night.
And she said it was right for her.
He wondered why she was glad to see him again. He didn’t know what she expected to come of it, or what he should expect to come of it. He felt strange. Insecure. Abandoned. But she had her reasons! They weren’t best friends. He’d invested too much hope into a friendship that never had time to develop, never blossomed into anything else.
“I’m glad you’re happy.” That part was true. “It’s not like you owed me an explanation. I’m grateful you took the time, thank you for the letter.”
He’d have gone looking for her if she hadn’t left it. He’d have assumed something horrible. Like the Negaverse killed her. Or took her by force.
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Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 5:06 pm
Tristan nodded and hesitated, moving a little closer and holding out her arms toward him. “...I’d like to give you a hug, if you’d accept it. You were really…the only friend I had you know. Involved with all of…” She made a gesture with one of her hands. “All of this. The only friend that I made in the White Moon…the only one who really cared about me. I couldn’t just vanish without letting you know. That would be cruel…and I don’t want to be cruel…I…”
She hesitated again, hoping that he would take the hug. Hoping that they could salvage…something. Her and Gwen had, hadn’t they? And look what had come of it…but. She didn’t want to take this boy away into chaos. She simply still wanted to be his friend. To see him now and again and enjoy time spent together.
..There couldn't be anything wrong with that, right? Friendships shouldn’t have to end just because sides were changed.
“...Do you still want to be friends, Starlight? I’m still the same me, I promise. And I’ll still protect you. I promise.”
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Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 8:31 pm
A thousand thoughts ran through his mind instantaneously.
Was there an ulterior motive for the hug? Did she want to hurt him? Could he trust her?
…How badly did he want a hug from her right now?
Though he hesitated for a moment…
He risked it.
He walked into her arms, mindful not to make his starseed an easy grab just in case she was tempted. He hugged her gently, because…
He didn’t even know.
He didn’t have many friends. He wasn’t used to this.
“I don’t really have a lot of friends, either,” he said quietly. Most of the ‘friends’ he had were more like ‘family’ at this point. He wasn’t really good at making friends, he never had been. A sullen, angsty voice in the back of his head suggested that maybe he shouldn’t bother trying. A more realistic part seemed to understand he just had hurt feelings and it would fade eventually. Probably.
“We can be friends,” he answered, even if he wasn’t sure how that was going to be allowed. That didn’t seem like the sort of thing the Negaverse was going to allow. “I didn’t want to lose you in the first place.”
He didn’t know if she was the same person. He didn’t know what was different, now.
It would have been nice if it was the same, but…
He couldn’t help but worry.
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2022 6:58 am
Tristan seemed to relax when he allowed her to hug him, and her arms wrapped around the male, holding him close for a very long moment. “...I’m glad. The only regret I had about leaving was leaving you behind.” Of course, they weren’t that close…and even though she had felt bad about it…she wasn’t going to try to snatch him away from his family. From his life.
Her choices were her own, and that was all she could say.
“Keep moving forward, little Starlight. You’ve got a bright future ahead of you, and I can’t wait to see what you become.”
Tristan could stay his friend for as long as she was able, and honestly? That had to be good enough. It would be good enough. If worst came to the worst…at least she could promise that she would never take direct action against the Squire. And she knew she could stop Gwen if it came down to it…
Mizuki did what Mizuki wanted but…
“I’ll keep you as safe as I can.”
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2022 1:45 pm
Starlight flashed a quick, somewhat happy smile. “I don’t want you to get in trouble because of me. I don’t want to hurt you or anything. I don’t want to be enemies.”
Because, no matter what, he was only powered to protect people. He wasn’t the sort who could ever go out of his way to start a fight.
Especially not about someone he cared about.
“I don’t know what the future’s going to hold, I don’t know anything like that. I just know that I miss you and I hope you’re okay. And I was sad when I got your letter because I’d really looked forward to getting to be your friend. But.” His voice was almost convincing , but there was just a little emotion he couldn’t hide that revealed that he was still hurting.
He wasn’t mad, just sad.
“I’m really glad that you’re not alone and that you’re happier. I hope that they treat you well. And I hope that if anything happens, if you ever need help…then…I hope you know that I’m still here. I’m still your friend.”
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2022 2:15 pm
Tristan nodded and gave a soft sigh, pressing a small kiss to the top of Starlight’s head. “Thank you. Then…I’ll let you go now, little Starlight. I’ll see you sometime soon, I hope.”
Of course, she truly hoped that when she saw him…it wasn’t…in a position where it was something bad.
“Be safe, okay? Be safe and just. Relax. Relax and live your life, and be happy! Keep practicing that magic of yours, yeah?”
Drawing away, Tristan gave one last smile, before teleporting away, unwilling to remain. If she remained…she…well. She just couldn't remain. Perhaps one day but…right now, things were too raw for the both of them.
Still…at least they were friends.
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