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 Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2023 2:04 pm
Quote: The Fireflies (6) : In the warm summer nights, little glowing lights begin to bob and dart through the city. Fireflies are mating, so this isn't uncommon in itself; in the past few days you've probably seen hundreds of fireflies. What makes these lights so unique is that they seem to change color; you might see a blue one, a green one, a red one. They flicker randomly, and something just seems off with them. If you come into contact with one, you will find yourself with a strange electric jolt. They cannot be caught, and will flicker away if you pursue too aggressively. This isn’t the first time they’ve appeared in Destiny City, but no one’s been able to tell where they came from or where they’re going. No matter how quickly you chase them, they always seem to disappear before you can find any answers.
Summer had returned to Destiny City, and Ymir was miserable. He missed the cold of winter. He missed the snow and ice and the early sunsets. He missed how clear and crisp the air was, how the city sparkled with lights. He missed how he could go outside without feeling as if he were going to suffocate from heat and humidity.
Like the summer of his arrival, Ymir would only consent to leave the shelter of air conditioned dwellings at night, when the temperatures were still warm but not quite so extreme.
Together with Surtur, Ymir stopped by a park—close enough to the Gallos’ property that they could rush back if necessary, but not so close as to draw attention to the location—watching a smaller figure run around trying to catch fireflies.
“Shouldn’t we stay on her good side?” Ymir asked, keeping his voice low, wary of attracting too much attention. “What if she rescinds her hospitality upon discovering you’ve snuck her daughter out while she’s not in town?”“What, indeed.”
Lucasta crept out from some nearby bushes, a dissatisfied expression upon her feline face. Amber eyes stared at Surtur in particular. Both were guilty, as far as she was concerned, but she knew who bore most of the blame.
It wasn’t in Lucasta’s nature to keep secrets from her bonded. She knew Ganymede didn’t appreciate them, and, in an effort to improve what was once a contentious relationship, Lucasta generally made every effort to be honest and up front with her. However, hearing about this particular transgression might not be in any of their best interests.
Lucasta paused to watch Eupheme. It was true that she thought the girl should be trained, just as it was true that Surtur seemed at least partially equipped to do that, but she understood Ganymede’s concerns and hesitation, too. This era was not like that of the Silver Millennium. The raising of child soldiers was generally frowned upon. A part of Lucasta even agreed that Eupheme should remain innocent for as long as possible.
For tonight, they were fortunate that there were no auras nearby, and that she was here now to mask theirs.
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Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2023 2:05 pm
As far as Surtur was concerned, Ganymede was doing Eupheme a disservice by keeping her locked away to remain ignorant of a power she was born with. There would always be dangers, especially in this world, in this time. There were so many things wrong with Earth, particularly the country they lived in, that a little bit of time to let a child be a child was a good thing.
“Lucasta. Good evening,” Surtur smiled pleasantly, but there was a certain edge to his smile. He knew she didn’t agree with going against Ganymede, but one day… Ganymede might not be around.
“You are looking lovely this fine night. Come to see the fireflies, too?” he asked, arms crossed comfortably over his chest as he kept his eye on the little Senshi, as well as keeping his senses sharp to pick up any sign of danger.
“She does too little to prepare her daughter. A Senshi of Eupheme’s pedigree should have known how to properly use her magic, instead of being sequestered away. She is being hypocritical, regardless. She has her children taking lessons in self defense, but not teaching Eupheme who she really is.”
He paused and let out a quiet, resigned sigh. “However… I have considered her rejection. If that is the case, there are others I could stay with. I would not allow any blame to be placed on you,” he promised Ymir. Henry should have been there, too. That, more than any other reason, made Eupheme hesitate as she looked around her at the fireflies. Every couple minutes or so, she would turn to share something with her twin, only to remember he wasn’t there with her.
She knew it was important that she learned how to use her magic, and to just get experience as a Senshi, but she so desperately wanted Henry to be there with her.
It wasn’t fair. If anyone should have magical powers, it should have been Henry. He was so kind and brave. Not nearly as reckless as she could be.
But that was okay, because she would just have to make sure she learned as much as she could so she could share it with him, and hope that he wouldn’t be too upset that he wasn’t with her. Maybe if she caught a couple of those different color fireflies, she would be able to make it up to him.
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Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2023 2:08 pm
Ymir had no clue what others Surtur was referring to. Alastor? That strange collector with the horns? The Velencians? Surtur didn’t seem particularly enamored with any of them, though he maintained friendly relations. Beyond that, Surtur had expressed enough disappointment with the state of the White Moon forces here on Earth that Ymir couldn’t imagine he’d care to associate with them more than necessary.
There was also the issue of Ymir himself, who didn’t fancy the idea of being on his own among strangers, not now that he’d become accustomed to having Surtur around.“I’ve come to aid you,” Lucasta countered. “Not in encouraging Eupheme toward mischief, though you can rest assured I will consider keeping your secret so long as no harm comes to her. Rather, it has come to my attention that your starseed has recovered enough to unlock some of the power you’ve lost. Whatever happened to you or your world that took it from you must not be permanent.”
Lucasta watched Eupheme as she spoke, aware of her sadness almost as clearly as she was aware of the bright beacon that was Surtur’s starseed. Eupheme asked often whether or not Lucasta could give Henry magic. Lucasta was quickly running out of explanations for why becoming a Senshi didn’t work that way.Ymir turned to Lucasta, brows rising in mild surprise. From her, he looked to Surtur. Nothing about him seemed different, but if Lucasta was correct and Surtur could regain his power, perhaps Ymir could, too.
By the same token, he would not be surprised if his world completely rejected him. He hadn’t exactly put much effort into saving it. If anything, he couldn’t wait to be rid of it.
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Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2023 2:09 pm
Surtur turned to Lucasta in slight surprise as well. He was happy that he might have the chance to regain his powers, but it had been so long since he’d lost them that he was just slightly skeptical that he could. Then again, he knew Alastor had regained his own powers. Maybe it wasn’t so far-fetched after all.
“Then I must thank you for your assistance and continuous hard work,” he said graciously as he pulled his henshin pen out of his subspace to hand over to her, although he knelt down more at her level to do so.
“Is it just me for now, or…?” he wondered but left the question hanging as he glanced up at Ymir. He didn’t want to be the only one gaining powers and making Ymir feel left behind. Eupheme was aware that the adults were talking. She’d also spotted that Lucasta had joined them. She would probably be told it was just adult things they were talking about, because for some reason they didn’t think she could handle it.
But she was a Senshi. And she had magic. Magic that she was still getting used to, but magic all the same.
She used it now. Just a little. Enough to help her jump a little higher. Slower than a normal jump, but it gave her more distance to try and catch some of the fireflies that seemed to flitter out of reach each time.
Maybe next time she would have Henry try some of her magic. She knew he would have fun. She already missed him so much, but she also knew what Surtur and Ymir were risking to let her have a chance to power up and run around.
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Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2023 2:09 pm
“If I could do the same for both of you, I would have said so. As it is, Ymir is not yet ready.”
Lucasta saw no reason to beat around the bush. Unlocking more power had nothing to do with their worth as individuals. It was simply a matter of one’s starseed, which could be finicky things. Some could handle more power quickly; others required time and patience. If she were to be honest, and she always was, Lucasta was unsurprised by Ymir’s lack of readiness. He seemed more delicate overall—mentally and emotionally, even if his physical fitness was adequate enough for the tast. That his starseed seemed to follow a similar vein was fitting.Disappointment flared briefly, but it was gone in moments—forcefully suppressed. There was no point in feeling let down. He often wished he’d never been a Senshi in the first place. He felt betrayed by his own starseed, not for what it failed to do, but for what it was.
Ymir turned away, leaving Surtur and Lucasta to their tasks. It was good that Surtur would have more power. Perhaps, like Alastor, Surtur would be able to save his world. He could rebuild his empire, take Ymir for himself, too, and any other world that might be better off under his care. It had been foolish for Ymir to think he had anything more than an unwanted world to offer in that.
“Here,” Ymir said, motioning Eupheme to a stop once her magic ran out. “They’ll disperse if you’re not patient. Stand quietly. You don’t want them to see you as a threat.”It was a simple matter. Lucasta took Surtur’s pen for the upgrade, and focused on his starseed to help him draw out the power. No sooner had Ymir gone to Eupheme than it was done. Lucasta returned the henshin pen, satisfied by the calm, uncomplicated process—rare as anything calm and uncomplicated was on Earth.
“Treat your power as you would have when you first became a Senshi,” Lucasta advised him. “Honor your power, endeavor to improve, and I dare say you shall regain all that was lost, in time.”
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Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2023 2:11 pm
Surtur waited while Ymir turned away, but he couldn’t help but feel like he could have done something more to help him understand his worth as a Senshi. Or, at the very least, worth as his companion and someone he had quickly learned how to rely on and trust. He didn’t want to think about having to live away from Ymir, but he thought Ymir deserved more kindness and consideration than he’d gotten from anyone in the past.
His attention was back to Lucasta once she spoke to him again, and nodded to her as he took the henshin pen back. He held it close to his chest, like it was a treasure. But it was really just a tool to help unlock his potential, he knew.
He listened to Lucasta’s advice, took it to heart. It wasn’t the first time he’d powered up, but it had been so long.
It seemed to take only a moment for his power to unlock as he focused on it, but soon he was standing back to his feet with a grateful nod to Lucasta.
“Thank you. I won’t waste this.” Eupheme paused when Ymir approached her. He was usually so quiet and kept to himself, but she liked him anyway. It meant that he wasn’t likely to yell at her, although she hoped she and her siblings weren’t doing anything to annoy him.
“Should I just hold still? Will that work?” she frowned curiously, but as she gently landed back on the ground, she did as she was instructed and held still.
It was difficult for her to just stand still. She shifted on one foot and then the other, but she kept glancing up at Ymir.
“You’re really pretty,” she said, but made sure she was whispering so she wouldn’t scare any of the bugs away. And after a moment, she reached up to take his hand, because maybe that would help her to stand still a bit better.
“Look!” she gasped after just a minute longer as the strangely colored fireflies drew closer to them. So close that she could see the light on her outfit when they lit up briefly. “Thank you.”
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Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2023 2:12 pm
A single brow lifted upon Lucasta’s otherwise straight face, as if to say, I didn’t think you would.
Surtur was ambitious. If he put his mind to it, Lucasta was certain he had the will to save his world—it was simply a matter of regaining his power, however fast or slow that process might be. Perhaps, once he’d done so, those dreams of conquest would have been satisfied, and he could use that mind and that will of his for the good of Earth.Ymir had no particular interest or fondness for children, but Ganymede’s seemed to flock to him. He assumed it was because he was quiet, and often sad, as if children had some innate sense for such things, seeking out those who might benefit from their innocence. Ymir saw no reason to shoo them off, especially Eupheme and her twin, who turned out to be valuable assets when it came to learning about Earth.
So Ymir held Eupheme’s hand, then crouched down beside her to be more on her level, waiting for the fireflies to flutter closer. He glanced over his shoulder after Surtur’s aura flared, already resigned to the idea that he might never regain his magic himself.
Perhaps it was for the best. Surtur could conquer, and Ymir could live a quiet life.
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