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 Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2023 11:06 am
It was strange, but wonderful, how very much like home Lysithea now felt, and when she arrived with Julian and the picnic, Lysithea couldn’t stop herself from grinning and spreading her arms wide. “Welcome, Julian. This is Lysithea the place, and…your Wonder, the place that you protect is somewhere up here. I’m not really sure where but, I know more than enough Knights who can mentor you if you’d like that.”
Brooklyn would be a good person to get him introduced to…they were both her Knights, and both seemed to be around the same age…teenagers were good about people close to their own age and there wouldn’t be any authority issues, hopefully.
“Actually, I’ll see if I can get some patrols set up with another Lysithea Knight if you’d like that. Her name is Brooklyn, and she’s about your age. I met her the other day when she asked if I could help to purify someone that she met…ah.”
Grinning almost apologetically, Lysithea drew a blanket from the basket and spread it out on the grass, under her favorite tree and began to set up the food. “I keep getting ahead of myself, if you have any pressing questions, go ahead while I’m keeping my mouth shut getting this picnic set up, I feel like I’ll just keep thinking of things and blurting them out with no real explanations and get you even more confused. I’m so sorry.”
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Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2023 11:33 am
Even though she’d told him what to expect, he didn’t think that words did the experience–or this world–any justice.
“It’s okay,” he said quickly. “I like listening. Some of my questions feel so strange to me, I know I’m going to sound really ridiculous.”
He carefully balanced the basket as she set up the blanket.
“How long have you been a Senshi for?” he asked, even if it wasn’t exactly on his list. “How long has this whole war been going on. And how do you balance things? Like, I have school, and it’s not really easy to get out past a certain point in time. I want to know how I can help. I don’t know if I can sneak out.”
Maybe he’d be able to, but–Julian was a good kid. He wasn’t at Hillworth because he was a troubled boy, he just didn’t have many options. He wasn’t sure he had the spine to break the rules and sneak out to do things.
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2023 8:06 am
Lysithea blew out a breath. “Not sounding ridiculous at all, but I’m about to, for a minute here. I’ve…actually been a Senshi for longer than I can remember? There was an…incident…going on two years ago now I guess? I ended up losing all of my memories and getting brought to the other side. Corruption, it’s called and…when I was saved by my friends, I forgot most of those memories too, so I mean. I remember being a Senshi from about November twenty twenty one…or so. But, I’ve been a Senshi for a lot longer than that, I’m not sure of the real number though. It’s been a while. And the war…it’s been going on forever, at least as far as I’m concerned. I’m not completely sure of that answer either, but I can get you the third answer! No problem!”
She gave a sheepish, almost apologetic grin and began to take out the dishes. “I balance things out because the people I live with all know what’s going on. We’re all in this together, and honestly, most of us have been saved from the clutches of Chaos, so we have a pretty deep bond…and I work with one of my roommates so that makes that part easier. If you can’t sneak out, that’s completely okay. Julian, you’re not obligated to do anything. You have this power to help, it’s not meant to control every aspect of your life. I just want you to know your resources so that you can be safe and keep yourself safe and know your allies. Not because I want you to have another job or anything like that. I’m just here to give you as much help as I can.”
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2023 10:24 am
Julian didn’t think she sounded ridiculous. Amnesia was real, so it wasn’t so hard to subscribe to the idea that there was a ‘magical amnesia’ to watch out for as well.
The last answer was maybe the best one, but while it was a relief that he wasn’t obligated to do anything, he still felt a very heavy drive to do something.
He didn’t want this to be some cosmic mistake, he didn’t want the universe to take this back.
“I appreciate that,” he said–quite honestly. “I think–I spent a lot of time thinking about it, and I think I want to do my best. I’m not so good at fighting or anything.” Not at all, actually, so he wasn’t sure where he was supposed to fit in there. “But if I can help keep people safe, I might like that. Hillworth is kind of strict.”
She’d already seen him in his school uniform but he knew what kind of reputation they had there. Still, he tugged at the hem of his shirt while he spoke. “I didn’t do anything bad to get sent there. If you were worried. It just sort of happened. I’ve moved around a lot and there was an opening, and it had dorms, and–”
It wasn’t important, she didn’t need his whole history. What was important was the list.
“Your world is really pretty. Do you know how I could get to Dering if I wanted to see what it looked like? I don’t really know what I’m supposed to do there, do you have other Knights here that have already figured all this stuff out?”
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2023 10:48 am
The boy was so understanding, and seemed so willing to want to protect people…Lysiteha felt herself absolutely melting, and without really thinking about it, she placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “There’s nothing wrong with going to Hillworth. What school you go to doesn’t change who you are, and doesn’t make you a bad person. It’s just a reputation for the school, it doesn’t mean that going there makes you tainted. You’re a sweet boy, Julian. I can see that easily. You’re safe there, aren’t you? It’s strict, but you’re not unhappy...are you? That would be the only reason I would worry, I don’t want you somewhere that you don’t feel safe or happy.”
…Not that she could do anything about it but…she would try. Helping was just…in her blood, and honestly at this point, Lysithea didn’t know how to turn it off.
“Ah…as for you getting to Dering? I’m not completely sure off of the top of my head, but I want to set it up that you meet with another Lysiteha Knight, yeah! Her name is Brooklyn, and like I said earlier though, I know I said a lot earlier but she’s about your age, and she goes to St. Mags so she’s got the whole ‘bad reputation harsh school’ thing going for her too. I bet you two could end up being good friends!” Her eyes sparkled at the thought, and the thought of having Knights who knew each other, protected each other…cared for each other…
Perhaps that would be the greatest boon of becoming a Princess. Finding a way to really spread unity...
A lofty goal but…It might be able to be possible. “When would be a good day for you? She’s normally free on the weekends she says, and she. Admittedly does sneak out of her dorms at night, but that isn’t expected for you, I promise. She told me that she just…likes to do it.”
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2023 12:19 pm
“Oh,” Julian said, and processed this information quickly enough. He didn’t really know a lot about St. Magdalene outside of its bad reputation. He knew some of the boys at Hillworth snuck out, he just didn’t think he had the spine to know what to do if he got caught. Brooklyn must have been braver than he was, or more reckless. Or maybe she liked trouble.
He didn’t want to assume. Hillworth had a collection of poorly behaved boys or just poor boys in general, and he didn’t really like the fact that the uniform felt like a brand for disadvantaged boys, but Lysithea seemed eager enough to reassure him.
“Well, I really don’t have things planned on the weekends. We’re not allowed to have guests after seven, but as long as I’m back before too late, I can stay out for longer on weekdays. I think ten is the absolute latest you can be out? But I was told that they start getting on your case if you’re not back by eight.”
He was always back before the sun set, in any case.
“I’m done with classes by four, though. I used to have violin practice after school but I haven’t done that in a while. But I think that’s basically everything. If you want to give her my phone number so we can meet up or something, we can try to figure it out? I can try to work around her schedule. We could meet in the park, if that’s not too far from her? I like to go there to just destress, I like the open air and all.”
He was talking too much and he knew it; his face was a little pink, but Lysithea seemed interested, and he wanted her to know that he was serious and was going to try his best.
And, hopefully his enthusiasm would make up for the fact that he might not be the best Knight. But, he’d try!
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2023 12:41 pm
“I’d be happy to give her your number! I didn’t manage to get hers, but I’ll get it to you as soon as I can. My cat, Soleiyu…he’s not an ordinary cat, he’s what’s called a Mauvian? And he’s like my partner, but he’s the one who met her first so he has her contact info. But, yeah, I think you two will get along well, and the park is always a good place to meet!”
She drew out some bread and some sandwich items and placed them in front of Julian. “Help yourself to any food you want, Jules. Ah, is it okay if I call you Jules? It kind of just kept jumping into my head and I’ve been calling you that at home too, but if you’re not a fan just let me know, Julian is a wonderful name.”
Opening a container of mac and cheese, she scooped some onto her own plate and took a small bite, sighing happily. “...What other questions do you have for me, kiddo?”
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Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2023 1:07 pm
A Mauvian? Another question to add to the list, but at least this time Julian was committed to actually working through it.
“Oh–you can call me Jules, yeah,” he said, and smiled at the name. He unfolded the list and held it between both hands, but the food was too tempting for it to hold his full interest. “Thank you,” he said of the food, and he hesitated for a moment before he took the food closest to him.
He felt shy about it, and looked up to make sure that she was okay with him picking that, but the way she smiled and seemed to be so encouraging helped chase away most of his worries.
He cleared his throat and skimmed down the list.
…He had a lot of questions. But, they had time. And a lot of food to keep them placated while he worked through it.
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