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 Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:11 pm
Belmont had just spent nearly the entire day at his Wonder. He’d woken up early, just before dawn, and taken his packed lunch and collection of supplies with him out to the park. There, he fought the urge to return home and crawl back into bed so he could drag himself to his wonder.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t been excited! It was just that he’d already stayed up so late getting ready.
Poor planning resulted in a nap on his Wonder, but he’d still managed to get a lot of cleaning up done.
He stayed there, from dawn until a bit past sunset–at least, by Earth standards–and he was yawning and ready for a shower and another good rest by the time he finally willed himself back to Earth.
Or, it was supposed to be Earth.
He’d visited a lot of places in Destiny City, but he arrived in a strange, slightly run down park that looked like no one had been there for a while. There was a gorgeous fountain, but there were no lights and it wasn’t running. Moss and algae had grown over it, and mosquitoes buzzed around the stagnant water.
There were no city lights from here, but there was a tall canopy of trees around them. He felt a senshi signature, so naturally he began to seek it out.
Under the moonlight, he could make out her details, but–
She didn’t look human. Between her ears, her horn, her tail...
“Um.” He looked around, just to make sure she was the only one here, and then he couldn’t help but ask, “Hey, hi. Sorry for just showing up here, but. Where, ah. Where are we?”
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:14 pm
Ersa had thought better about just going for a patrol alone. When she had something planned, when she was hanging out with Hestia, things were…normally fine. Mostly. Fine enough. But when she went out alone…things were almost never fine and the fact that she was terribly turned around tonight was proof of that…though.
When the feeling of a Squire came into her radar, she moved quickly towards it…sure, not everyone was going to be friendly but this person was at least normal. They were on her side and hopefully it meant that they were human and would understand where they were and how to get somewhere that wasn’t so dark and creepy…
When the Squire spoke and asked where they were, Ersa felt her heart stop for a moment and she swallowed. “I…was hoping that you would know…I think that I’m very lost and haven’t been here before, I had thought I was going towards where the wishing tree had been, that is normally my landmark for when I venture out but I don’t know where I am now…and you…shouldn’t you know? You’re the one who lives here!” It wasn’t an accusation, but rather a hopeful plea and she looked at the…Jupiter Squire with a trusting expression. “I am Sailor Ersa, and I hope that you can help me…”
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:16 pm
Belmont was quiet for a moment as he tried to process. There was a Wishing Tree in Destiny City, but…
Was this really Destiny City? It smelled so clean! There wasn’t any noise pollution!
…Wait, no, maybe this was embarrassing, he couldn’t even recognize his own world?
“Oh–sorry, I thought something might have gotten messed up. I just came from Jupiter and I thought it sent me to the wrong planet. If this is Earth though, I’m solid. I’ve never seen a Senshi who looked quite like you. I mean, the tail,” he gestured, like that explained everything.
“Is that real? I’m–sorry, I’m getting ahead of myself.” He stuck out his hand and smiled. “I’m Belmont. It’s nice to meet you, Ersa. If you’re lost, we can find our way out of here. As long as I’m on the right planet, I can work with that.”
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:18 pm
“It is the Earth, yes! We have not left and gone elsewhere, I promise…” Ersa hesitated, glancing back at her tail and feeling…somewhat self conscious. That…didn’t happen often, her tail was perfectly normal, but people on this planet always found it so strange…Daphne hadn’t though, and it was nice to have at least one friend who had a tail of her own but.
“...I am not from the Earth…I am from Ersa, and I came here…a few moons ago, but…I am still not really used to it, and I can’t help that I am different from you humans…that’s just how people are…were…on my Moon…I am from one of the Jovian Moons, if that gives you any idea?”
He was a Squire of Jupiter…perhaps he knew her…or of her or…
Well…maybe not. She hadn’t really known anyone apart from Lysithea but…that didn’t mean that he hadn’t heard of her before!
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:21 pm
Belmont could sense some shift–however slight it appeared to be–and he realized very quickly that his words might have been a bit awkward for her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s not something I’m used to. But you look lovely. I’ve just never met someone who came to Earth. I mean–there were the Velencians, but that’s a whole complicated story, and–”
If she’d only been here for a few moons, he definitely needed to slow himself down.
He knew he could get excited easily, so he flashed a smile and forced himself to calm down quickly.
She said were, he noticed. He wanted to ask. He didn’t. He’d already made a rocky first impression, he wanted to do a little better before he let his curiosity take over.
“You said you were lost? Why don’t we start walking and see where we wind up? I bet we can make it to the Wishing Tree. Do you have a wish in mind, or…?”
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:22 pm
“I have already made my wish, and the Star Festival is over, is it not? I did enjoy it though…I was able to meet some very nice friends but…the tree itself remains…” Suddenly Ersa looked rather alarmed. “They do not destroy the tree after the Festival, do they? That would be such a waste and I would not know how to deal with that knowledge…”
She hoped that wasn’t the case…that was just…cruel to even think about. Trees could have such long lives and if the humans of this city just…tore them down with abandon…
“I’m…sure that isn’t the case though!” Ersa gave Belmont a look, hoping that he would reassure her, and tugged on a lock of her hair. “But I know that place…it is a landmark for me and I know how to get back to where I am staying from there…so that is where I always strive to get back to. I would love to walk with you, yes!”
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:38 pm
“Oh, well I think you can always make a wish. Whether it’s the festival or not. The tree stays up year round, though! You don’t have to worry, I don’t think anyone would ever dream of destroying it! It’s old, trees like that are usually protected under–well, I don’t know what it’s called, I just know that ‘tree law’ is sort of a big deal and there are a lot of protections in place. Come on,” he flashed a quick smile and began walking towards what looked like the glow of the city. He couldn’t make out much but he thought he had a good idea of somewhere to start.
Absolute worst case scenario? He could just power down and pull out the GPS.
“So–you’re not from Earth? How did that happen? I mean, I’m not trying to pry. I’ve just not really met a Senshi from another world. All of the ones I know were born here. Are you okay, do you have people helping you while you’re here?”
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:38 pm
“Oh good!” Ersa looked relieved and followed closely after the Squire, chewing on her bottom lip for a few moments as she contemplated his question. “How…did that happen? I…don’t know. I was just born on Ersa…and then something bad was going on, and they put me to sleep, but my cousin Lysiteha was supposed to come and help…and I guess she didn’t…and then when I woke up I was here on Earth and…I don’t know.”
It was all too complicated, honestly, and thinking about it did nothing but make her unhappy…so she did her best to not think about it. It worked most of the time.
“I…have people helping me, yeah. I don’t get to see them often but…but I’ve made some other friends…not that I get to see them very often either but…I’m okay! I’m doing my best and…I’m trying to be a good Senshi…”
It was hard though. Hard when she didn’t…have any real reason to fight…and she was terrible at fighting regardless. “Are…you okay? Do you have people helping you?”
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:41 pm
Belmont considered her words and her story and slowly nodded as it sank in. It was fascinating, but he couldn’t just outright say so–she wasn’t some story to be witnessed and commented on. She was a person, obviously, although everything she said felt a bit like a puzzle that he couldn’t quite put together.
“Oh–yeah, I’m okay,” he promised. “I got kind of lucky when I awakened. I ran into another Knight here and he gave me some tips. So the first thing I did was get some self defense lessons. Turns out that’s a good way to burn energy, too. Pretty exciting. Not a lot of things can keep my interest for very long so it’s been good for me.”
He couldn’t really put himself into her shoes, and she seemed a bit more down so he scrambled to come up with a different topic to distract her.
“How do you like Earth so far? I mean, it’s got its pros and cons, I think. But I’m still learning about other worlds. I’ve got my Wonder on Jupiter but it’s in pretty bad state. It’s not much of an offer, but if you ever need a break or want to check it out, I could take you some time. Unless that’s creepy, I know we’ve only just met. The truth is that I’m really proud of how things are coming together, though. I was just there all day trying to get things cleaned up.”
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:48 pm
“You would like me to come with you to Jupiter? I would like that very much! I have not had the chance to leave the Earth, and I am a little afraid to go back to Ersa…I know that the moon must be a mess and…it distresses me to even think about the state that it must be in, so…yes, I would love to visit you! Or, your Wonder.”
She looked at him and smiled, feeling a great sense of relief at the very fact that he had offered. It meant a lot, honestly.
“When would you want to go? I could bring candy! That is my very favorite part about the Earth is your sweets…they are all delightful and they bring me joy…and I tried to share some with other Earth people to bring them joy…it…didn’t quite go as I had hoped but…it did for a few of them, at least!”
Not that he cared, she was sure that he didn’t but…now that he had suggested that she go with him back up to Space…
She couldn’t not be friendly.
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 1:59 pm
Her smile seemed so genuine, he couldn’t help but return it. “Well, the bad news is that I just got back so I’m going to need a little time to recover my energy, but–can we go ahead in two weeks? We can swap information and plan to meet up. What type of sweets do you like? I mean, is it just candy or do you like cookies, pastries…?”
He didn’t think it was a strange question in itself, but he quickly added, “My cousin owns a bakery, I was going to invite you over there if you were interested. My treat. We could talk about whatever you want.”
It seemed only fair to maybe give her the chance to direct the conversation, especially because he wasn’t completely sure if he was saying something offensive or hurtful. But she was a Senshi! From another world! How could he not be interested?
But respectfully so!
“I mean–I’m sorry, I know I have a lot of questions. I don’t mean to be rude. Are you able to blend in here on Earth? I don’t want to invite you somewhere and then get you into trouble. I could bring some sweets and we could meet up somewhere calmer, like here or something.”
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 2:08 pm
“That is okay! I don’t mind waiting at all, and I like all of your Earth sweets, if you know a place that we can go and indulge in some, I am absolutely interested!”
Ersa bounced as she took another step, excited by the thought of trying new sweets and how good they would be, but his question made her give a little, wry smile. “I can blend in. I was given tools to do so, I must say it is awful to try to navigate without my tail for balance, but I am getting better at it!”
After a moment’s thought, Ersa let her powered form drop and stood there as Genevieve, holding her hand out towards Belmont. “I am known as Genevieve when I’m not Ersa! But you see, I look human!”
Even if she didn’t feel human…she could pass for one easily enough.
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 2:13 pm
Her mood seemed to have shifted, and Belmont wondered if it was really such a simple thing to make her happy by talking about sweets. But then, if he went to another world, he was pretty sure he’d be pretty invested in the food, too.
Ersa shifted to Genevieve, and Belmont blinked in slight surprise before a soft laugh fell from his lips and he shifted from Belmont to Aiden.
He wasn’t wearing anything impressive–boots and jeans, and a white undershirt with a half-buttoned collared shirt that was rolled up at the sleeves. Ink speckled from his hands to his elbows and his hair was tied up in a way that implied he’d been working on something before he powered up.
The ink from his project last night hadn’t washed off in his shower, and it was going to take a bit more effort to get totally cleaned up, but thankfully he wasn’t trying to impress anyone.
“I’m Aiden, it’s nice to meet you. That’s honestly amazing, I would have no idea you had a tail at all looking like this. I don’t think I’ll ever get over how much magic is in this universe. I’m interested in a lot of electronic, robotic type things, and even I can’t wrap my head around some of the stuff I’ve seen. It’s really cool, though. Nice to meet you, Genevieve.”
He took her hand and shook, careful not to tip her off balance with any enthusiasm.
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 2:13 pm
Belmont changed into his human guise too, but…well. Maybe he just shifted back into who he was as a human…whatever. Earth was strange and she was doing her best. “It’s very nice to meet you Aiden! I’m glad that we both ended up lost tonight, since now we both get to be friends!”
Genevieve’s face hurt from her smile as she shook his hand and then began walking, holding onto it as though he were an older brother. “I think I can see a street up ahead! That’s really good, because it means we’re not going to be lost in the woods forever. There really is a lot of magic in the Universe, you’re right but nothing can just…stop people from getting lost, at least I don’t think so…when do you want to go eat the sweets, Aiden?”
Hopefully soon, but she didn’t want to seem too greedy…even if she was.
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Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 2:15 pm
Aiden didn’t tug his hand away; something about the grip made him think of Carlee when she was small. Genevieve’s smile was a bit contagious, and he couldn’t help the small grin that lingered on his face.
“Well, the good news is that the bakery’s open every day. I’ll give you my phone number and we can meet up? It’s easy to find, especially if you already know where the Wishing Tree is.”
No meandering through the forest hoping to find a light, or a street sign.
He walked with a bit more enthusiasm when the glow of a street lamp illuminated the distance, and he was certain that they’d be out of here in no time even without having to rely on GPS.
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