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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.
Eliza was in the park tonight when she saw them, she remembered them from last year, chasing fireflies with Willie. This evening in the twilight, there are hundreds, just like that night. She was going to patrol soon, but as the fireflies … fairies, she thought, filled the park she just stared in awe of them. She knew not to try to catch them this time, it only led to tiny shocks, but she couldn't help giving into running among them, chasing them lightly. It was fun and she decided to enjoy the carefree moment before she powered up and patrolled for the night.
Despite the fact that he was 21 years old he still managed to hang out on the monkey bars at the park. He was hanging upside down when he noticed a girl running through the fireflies that were out and about. Deciding that would be something cool to do himself, Holland made his way off of the monkey bars toward the girl running around. He smiled, but decided he wanted to try and catch one of the fireflies closest to him. He missed but managed to catch the bug the second time around.
He was not expecting the sting.
"Ouch!"
Eliza looked around the tree she disappeared around, peeking out to see another person … a kid, maybe … she wasn't sure. She hadn't noticed him, but was glad he was just another civilian. “Those fairies don’t like to be caught. If you try to catch them they will zap you. They only come out around this time of year. Last year my best friend and I got zapped trying to catch them.”
Eliza smiled dressed in her usual fair, a rainbow striped off the shoulder ruffle top, cuffed shortalls, green legging with yellow hearts, pink leg warmers despite the heat and converses covered in silver glitter. Paired with her wild mess of blonde waves and curls, at 4’11” she looked more like a child than the almost 27 year old woman she was.
“They are beautiful, right?”
Holland turned around, smiling brightly at the girl? Behind him. "Oh! I didn't know that…They really are beautiful~" his gaze turned to the fireflies, marveling at the different colors that were lighting up. "What's your name?" He tilted his head. He wanted to ask her age, but figured that would be rude.
Eliza gave a bright smile, “I'm Eliza. Its nice to meet you. Did you come to the park looking for the fairies? Its really late. Last year, they were all over the field near my farm. I had so much fun.”
She watched as the fireflies danced around them, the colors flashing. She couldn't believe they were anything other than tiny fairies. “Do you think they are celebrating something,” she asked softly.
She paused briefly realizing she hadn't asked his name, “Sorry I forgot to ask your name in my distraction.”
Holland looked around at the fireflies, pondering. Why did she call them fairies? These were fireflies….Instead of correcting her he answered, “Nice to meet you Eliza, my name is Holland.” a sigh left him, watching the fireflies dance and move, “I think they’re celebrating the season of summer maybe.” Nevermind the fact that it could be mating season for them or they have a migration path that they follow, much like birds. “Summer is the best season after all, I don't see them coming during autumn or winter.” He spotted one turning green and smiled since it reminded him of his other persona.
“Holland is a really nice name, I like it,” she said with a smile. “Maybe who knows, but I like to let my imagination run wild … I'm a writer after all, it comes with the territory.” She grinned and shook her head, “Summer huh, you sure, all the best holidays are in all the other seasons … though I do love to swim.”
Eliza was partial to fall and winter, but she also liked to just be able throw on whatever she wanted and tended to wear multiple layers and summer wasn't exactly layer friendly. “I don’t blame them for not coming out in the cooler seasons, this city can get a bit weird.”
“You're a writer?! Can you tell me some of the books you’ve published?” Sure all the holidays were in other seasons but summer was the time for when you could just run wild, without the biting cold of winter, the breeze of autumn and the rains of spring. “Swimming is fun, but summer just makes me want to act more free, you know?” he twirled around for a bit before he decided to start working on his belly dancing, moving along to a tune in his head. Summer meant being yourself, being free, without inhibitions. Not that he had many anyway. As he moved, he started humming, feeling the undulating in his belly.
“I've only just graduated from college last year so I’ve only just published my first book for which I have a book signing in just two months, mid September. The book is called Star above, Stars Below … its a children's book.”
She grinned, feeling proud of her first accomplishment as a college grad and thinking again back to last year and these very fireflies that gave her the idea. She was going to patrol, but now she thought maybe she’d go home, call Willie and chase fireflies in the field again.
“I can understand that,” she said, watching him, before clapping along to the tune of his humming and dancing more like one would around a maypole or bonfire.
Holland grinned at Eliza, continuing his dancing while trying to move along with her, laughing. This turned out to be so much fun! It also seemed like he gained a new friend, something that he really needed in this city. One day he hoped to make friends with someone on the powered side of things but he could worry about that later. He continued to dance before stopping to take a short break. “Um Eliza? Can we exchange numbers? I’d like to hang out some more if that would be okay?” He was practically vibrating with excitement, eyes looking rather hopeful. Maybe he could teach her how to belly dance? Or maybe they could go dancing at one of the clubs!!! That would be even more fun!
Eliza was having a ball and when they stopped dancing she let herself flop down in the grass looking up at Holland when he asked if they could exchange numbers. She grinned and nodded, fishing out her phone and handing it over so Holland could put his number in.
“That was fun,” she said laughing, “if I dont answer my phone I'm probably working on my farm.”
Holland gladly put his number into Eliza’s phone, flopping down beside her, laughing just as much “Right?! I always have the most fun when I’m dancing~” He nodded at her explanation, “I usually have dance class and judo, that's the only time I will not answer~” Wow! Not only did he have fun but he also actually had a friend now, and he couldn't wait to do fun things like this again with her.
Kaori_luv
