The Wishing Tree (1): A Destiny City Star Festival Tradition to be held every year; In Town Square, there is a beautiful tree with spreading branches. It is tall, but the lowest branches are easily reached. The city has decorated the tree with small, starlike ornaments and glistening lights. Thick leaves and beautiful purple flowers dangle from the branches, along with a myriad of different colored papers with handwritten wishes. Next to the tree is a stack of blank paper with twine attached, and a handwritten sign that explains:
Write your wish on a sheet of paper and tie it to the tree. Take one wish off the tree and do your best to grant it. When you have granted the wish, bury the paper in the park.
The papers are biodegradable and filled with seeds. There are no rules for wishing, but you are encouraged to wish for something vague enough that it can be interpreted in many ways so that it can be granted; you do not write your name on it, but it is encouraged to write something that doesn’t wish for self gain, but rather something that can make the world a better place. Some wishes dangling from the tree already include things like “I wish there wasn’t so much litter in the park,” “I wish someone would clean the graffiti off the old historic buildings,” and “I wish there were more volunteers at the shelter.”
If you choose to use the Wishing Tree, what do you wish for? If your wish is private, you may write it on the paper and choose a spot in the park and bury it yourself instead of hanging it on the tree.
Jace couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen a friend.
Well–no, that wasn’t quite true. He could remember, it just felt so long ago that it hurt when he put a number on it. He’d been spending so much time focused on work, or checking his phone to see if someone had messaged him, and–
It was always work. His life was work. His life was his mother pushing him to make new connections, to do good for the family business. To marry into families she wanted on her side. To ruin lives for reputation and finances. Some of her wants were easier than others.
He did as much as he could to keep her happy, but every conversation felt like thinning ice. Sometimes he took clients she didn’t want. Worse, sometimes he didn’t take clients she wanted him to have.
He was building a name for himself.
He was learning how to say no to her.
Sometimes.
But, it was lonely. Perpetually lonely. The house was empty. Even if he was doing good for some people, it felt like he was just going through the motions. Making quick, desperate patches for a problem that was still growing.
He’d ignored his own wants and needs for a very long time and it was wearing on him.
Jace was lonely.
He hadn’t made new friends, he just had his same small cluster of friends, and most of them–
Had they moved on without him? It felt like the messages came slower and slower, if at all, and he didn’t know if it was just in his head or if it was a sign he was just ignoring.
He didn’t know anymore.
It’s not like most of them were even in town anymore.
But–there was Nelson. Jace had been thinking about him for a while now, but it had been–well, too long, since they’d last seen each other.
Jace had left the office on time, partly because he was almost entirely caught up and partly because he felt restless and needed the fresh air. The Star Festival was in full celebration and he’d missed out on all of it.
…But the Wishing Tree hadn’t been too far from his office, and he stood a good bit off to the side to admire it and all the lights that had been set up around it.
Part of him didn’t even realize what he was doing; his phone was in his hands, and then he’d pushed in some buttons, and then it was ringing, and–
And, suddenly, he was holding his breath and hoping Nelson picked up the phone because he didn’t know what type of message he was supposed to leave if he didn’t.
Orangeish Sherbert
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2022 7:29 pm
Normally, Nelson enjoyed the Star Festival. It was always fun to see what new and exciting things were going to pop up around the city but…
This year he just wasn’t feeling it.
The depression and unhappiness from everything was beginning to become rather oppressive and he wasn’t sure what to do. He thought about calling Damian and seeing if they could spend some time together…just so that Nelson could have someone to talk to but…what if that was too much? What if his General really thought he was being needy and refused or reassigned him or just.
Decided he wasn’t worth keeping around and told him to get lost?
Nelson…didn’t want to think about any of those outcomes and so…didn’t bother calling.
When his phone lit up though, it nearly caused a heart attack and Nelson very nearly rolled off the bed in surprise, tossing the phone away from him, his brain telling himself that he had done this, he had made it ring and…oh.
The name on the front of the phone was Jace.
What did…
Swiftly, Nelson picked the phone up, heart hammering with the idea that perhaps Jace had news of Xander. That perhaps…
“Hello? Jace? Are…you okay?”
Kyuseisha no Hikari
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2022 8:36 pm
“I’m fine, yeah,” he answered quickly. Maybe too quickly, like he was used to repeating it. It was a phrase that rolled off his tongue and never really seemed to have much thought behind it.
Nelson sounded nervous, and for a split second Jace wondered if it was because of him or just because that was his natural state. Maybe both.
“Everything’s fine,” he added, for good measure. “I was just on my way home from work and stopped in the city. It’s pretty outside, I don’t know. I wondered if you were up to anything. It’s been a while since we hung out.”
It had been forever, honestly; he wasn’t even sure if they’d ever hung out alone. “I got you one of those star charms.”
They were free, that was so tacky. “Do you want to go get dinner or something? I’ll pay. I’m at the Wishing Tree right now and there’s like eight restaurants here and they all smell great.”
Orangeish Sherbert
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2022 8:55 pm
He was quiet for a long moment and then swallowed. “You…really?” Nelson felt his voice crack on the question, and he sat up, glancing down at his attire and wondering if this was a joke or…or whatever it might be.
“If…I mean. I…I’d love to! There…I know there’s a new Korean Barbecue place that I’ve read about…um…I don’t think it’s too far from the Wishing Tree…they have some spicy options…”
Because of course they did. Because of course Nelson still looked at that kind of information and paid attention to it.
…Because of course he still cared far, far too much.
“I can be there in about ten minutes…I don’t live very far…but…ah…” He flushed, pulling on a pair of socks. “...Obviously you know that but…I’m on my way! I…I’m really excited to see you! I’ve…I’ve missed you…I…”
There was a lot that he wanted to say. Things that he held back on for fear of sounding clingy. Stupid.
“...I’m very happy that you…that you called I…never thought…you really…thought of me as a friend…”
Kyuseisha no Hikari
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2022 9:35 pm
Jace frowned and adjusted the phone against his face. He’d left his briefcase and all of his documents hidden in the trunk of his car, and this was a public enough place that he wasn’t worried about anyone breaking in. He hadn’t had the opportunity to dress down much after the office but he thought he pulled off a comfortable ‘business casual with emphasis on the casual’ well enough.
His resting b***h face probably wasn’t helping, though.
If it were anyone else he might have demanded to know why they thought such things, but he knew he couldn’t do that with Nelson or he’d think he did something wrong. Instead, Jace drew in a calming little breath and said, “Probably because we usually hang out in groups and not alone.”
They didn’t have a lot in common and Jace was abrasive and Nelson was sensitive, so even if he didn’t mean to hurt his feelings, Jace often felt like he spent more time trying to make up for an impression he’d accidentally given instead of something he’d meant to do.
“Korean Barbecue sounds really good, though.” He watched someone attach a wish to the tree and remove another one and he felt–
Well, bitter. Jealous? Sad?
He didn’t know. They looked so happy, smiling. Talking amongst each other.
His stomach clenched.
He wished Xander were here. Wished Holden was here. Wished Q was here.
It was just him.
Well, him and Nelson, who was still ten minutes away.
“Don’t rush or anything, the weather’s really nice so I don’t mind being out. I found a nice bench so I’m just going to take it easy. I needed some fresh air after the office, today.”
Orangeish Sherbert
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2022 9:53 pm
“I won’t rush but…I’m really…” Nelson swallowed and headed out of the front door after pulling his shoes on. “I’m really excited to see you! I’m…really excited to hang out again…I’ve really missed you Jace…”
Obviously. After all he had ended up in the lawyer’s office on one of his crying binges…and it had felt so nice to just be held...
And…they could miss everyone together.
…And it was just so nice to know that he wasn’t completely utterly alone when it came to his civilian social life.
“Did…did you get yourself a star charm too? Or should we…should we do some tree wishes together and I can get you one?”
The question tumbled out almost against his will, but…he was glad he had managed it, hurrying towards the area. “I’d be happy to make a wish with you. Maybe if we both wish for them to all come back…”
He swallowed. “...Maybe whatever magic…would end up reaching them.”
Kyuseisha no Hikari
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 9:08 am
Jace didn’t bother to remind Nelson that he really wasn’t the type of person who collected cute things like charms but he really didn’t have the heart to say no to him right now.
He’d been thinking the same thing, about making wishes.
But he wasn’t holding his breath.
And he didn’t believe in wishes or fairy tales or magic, or–
Well, that probably wasn’t very fair, given that he was a Knight and there was magic in that.
That was different. Maybe. He wasn’t ready to think about that tonight.
“I didn’t get a star charm. Haven’t made a wish yet, so there’s plenty of time. Sounds like you’ve got a good idea.”
…And even if their wish wasn’t going to come true, maybe they could help someone else’s.
Orangeish Sherbert
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 11:53 am
Oh. Well…good. Nelson felt a small smile creeping across his face and he managed a slightly shaking laugh. “...Okay good. Then…I’ll be there soon, Jace. I’m…excited to see you!”
He would get a hug…and they would make wishes…and maybe it wouldn’t be so long between now and the next time that they hung out.
Maybe this…would be good for the both of them.
Regardless…he was excited, and that was the truth.
