|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2023 5:41 pm
Quote: Prompt 13 (Winter Rainbow): Winter weather is usually fairly predictable–clouds, rain, snow, and a sunny day if you’re lucky. It’s unwise to predict anything in Destiny City, though. Lately, there’s been an uptick in unnatural rainbows. The sky almost regularly seems to be covered with some sort of pastel shimmer. The clouds have a rainbow sheen to them during all weather, and more than once you can even make out a rainbow from just the moon’s beams. Scientists claim there are just many water crystals in the air–and that checks out. During the frequent snows, it’s common to observe soft rainbow snowflakes that catch the light like tiny suncatchers. Even fallen snow seems to have an iridescent sheen to it. It’s not a common occurrence, but it’s happening often enough that you're likely to see it at least once this season.
He was supposed to be meeting up with his brother, or at least that was the plan, but Lisse was almost mesmerized by the beautiful colors that flitted across the sky. A moonlight rainbow…it. Wasn’t normal. He knew it wasn’t normal but…
The feeling of another Squire made his head perk up, and a feeling of guilt washed through him. “I’m coming!” He called out towards the person he was sure was his brother, and putting on a burst of speed, crossed the distance between himself and the other Squire but…
“Oh…hi! You’re not Halle! I thought that you were, ah! I’m Lisse!” He held a hand out to the strange, blue clad Squire and grinned sheepishly, though his eyes lit on the familiar symbols on the outfit.
“You’re a Lysithea Squire too?”
He was excited by the idea…there were so many of them now…it…was kind of amazing, honestly. “It’s really nice to meet you!”
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2023 7:54 pm
There was a lot of magic in Destiny City. Dering was wary of a great many things even before the unnatural, spooky, mysterious happenings came into play.
The sky was beautiful, but he was too careful to just sit back and appreciate it.
…But then, there were oddities on other worlds, right? He’d seen fantastical things on Lysithea and the Moon and they didn’t seem nefarious.
Just as he’d been mulling over possibilities, a voice penetrated his thoughts.
He half-turned in alarm, but it eased into something like calm when he realized it was another Squire. He waited, shifting nervously until Lisse arrived, and then he offered a quick smile. No, he was not Halle, but he was a Lysithea Squire!
“It’s nice to meet you, Lisse. Um, I’m Dering.” He shook Lisse’s hand. “I haven’t felt any other signatures. Um, if you were looking for someone in particular, I mean, I don’t think they’re around here.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2023 7:44 am
“Eh, that’s honestly okay. Halle’s my brother, he’s another Lysithea Squire like we are, but he’s always so bent on training and getting stronger, I’m kind of thankful just for the chance to relax and not worry about him reminding me of all the things that go bump in the night.”
Lisse grinned and shrugged, letting go of Dering’s hand and looking back up at the sky. “What do you think about this though. This is absolutely new…I’ve seen a lot, like, I’m still somewhat new to the city, and I can tell you, we didn’t have skies like this where I’m from, that’s for sure.”
Bailey had pretty things, and once in a while he could see the northern lights…once in a great while, but, it was always a treat when he could.
“Do you think it’s…natural or should we be worried?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2023 5:50 pm
He and his brother were Lysithea Knights? What were the odds? Dering wanted to pick his brain about it but refrained. Even though he’d been doing this for a while now, he was suddenly a bit nervous. He was still a fairly new Squire, even if he’d awakened much earlier this year.
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I’ve never been much interested in the weather beyond, you know. Sun, rain. Wear a jacket, don’t. The basic things. It’s pretty,” he said, because he’d been thinking it for a while, but with his hand free he rubbed at his arm uncertainly.
“I haven’t gotten any alarms or reports or anything that it’s something to be worried about. I have a few friends who probably would have noticed before I did and sent out an alert. But I don’t know what’s causing it, so…probably better to be safe. I was thinking about going in, just in case, but…”
…If someone needed help, it would be difficult to sneak out. He didn’t think he could come up with an excuse about where he was going if Luke was there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2023 6:11 pm
“I mean…honestly same here but like…” Lisse gave a rueful smile. “...No offense to you, but this city is so messed up. I mean like…around Halloween did you go to that creepy graveyard? I went twice, dragged my poor roommate with me the first time and went to grab some of the mushrooms and got attacked the second, but like…that’s wild. And doesn’t happen elsewhere.”
Looking back up at the sky he hummed softly. “Maybe this whole place is built on some cursed tribal burial ground and we’re all suffering for building a city here. How dare we defile nature and all that…though…don’t know why a rainbow would be any kind of suffering. It’s really pretty. I hope it’s not a sign of danger because I don’t think I could or would want to have to fight a rainbow.” He paused and gave a little smile. “If you have to go, that’s fine! It was really nice meeting you, and I hope that we can hang out and patrol together every so often. My cousin is a Lysithea Page so honestly…this has become a whole family thing for me.” Lisse laughed and shrugged, feeling pleased at the idea. He liked having his family involved…it was. Safer, honestly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2023 7:59 pm
Dering tensed. He felt his skin shrink all over his body and he stared at Lisse with–
What, confusion? Surprise? Horror?
That story sounded familiar. It probably wasn’t Luke, though. It couldn’t be. Even if Dering had been dragged by his roommate to go look at the strange underground graveyard.
“Oh, um.” He was visibly flustered. “No, I mean. I have a minute. I just didn’t want to waste your time. It’s really neat that you have, um–that you know so many Lysithea Knights. Have you met her? Princess Lysithea, I mean. She’s here in town. I bet she’d be really happy to meet you, if you haven’t already. Do you–I mean, this whole city…”
He shuddered. “Curses can’t be real…”
But magic was.
He rubbed at his arm uncertainly. “Have you been here in Destiny City this whole time?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2023 5:28 pm
“The whole time I’ve been Lisse, yeah! But that’s only…I moved here this summer, totally against my will but…it hasn’t been so bad…also, no…to my knowledge none of us have met Princess Lysithea…I wasn’t…like, I was kind of aware that it might be a thing but I didn’t realize she was like…here? That’s amazing! What’s she like?”
He looked terribly excited by the idea, and chuckled at the thought of Almere meeting a real princess. She would absolutely die...but in a good way.
…If there was a good way.
“I don’t know, if anywhere was going to be cursed, I think it would be this city…strange things are always going on here and it’s a thought that kind of makes sense. Kind of.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 5:40 pm
It was luck more than willpower that froze the word ‘Luke’ on Dering’s lips. He felt dizzy, suddenly. Like he’d been given a secret he wasn’t supposed to have. Would Luke have told him if he was supposed to know?
…No, probably not. He hadn’t told Julian. He wasn’t supposed to know. It made sense, though–all the nights that Luke had snuck out, it was to do this? All those nights that he came back late, all the times that he was nursing some new injury?
His mouth felt like it was shoved with cotton balls. No, packed with dirt. It felt like he was ready to choke on it. If he tried to talk, it would spill down his throat and clog his lungs.
For a moment, he just stood there, paralyzed by the weight of this sudden realization.
He wasn’t just imagining it–he couldn’t be. Coincidences were one thing, but if this was a puzzle, he felt like he had all the pieces laid out in front of him. Even if he hadn’t wanted to put the pieces together, they were clicking. One by one.
Of course, he’d look foolish–and out himself to a stranger–if he said too much.
In the absence of words, he just nodded quickly.
Finding his voice felt impossible, but his face was burning with embarrassment by the time he managed to pry his jaw open. “She–she’s great. She’s nice. I can–I can send her a message, if you want. She’d probably really like to meet you. She’s protective.”
He sounded breathless and hurried, and nervous, and his voice wavered between a little too loud and a little too quiet. The pressure in his chest grew a bit and his face felt so hot that he was worried it might start steaming.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 6:40 pm
Lisse nodded eagerly, “Absolutely yes! I would love to get in contact with her, that sounds amazing…ah…”
Concern crept into his voice as he watched Dering for a moment. “...are you…okay? You look like you’re going to be sick or…pass out or something…ah…”
Was it the weather? Was it some kind of a trap after all? “Do you want me to write to someone? Or can I walk you home? Get you something to drink? I uh…”
He withdrew a waterbottle from his subspace pocket and held it out to Dering with worry. “Here, I have this at least…what’s wrong? What can I do?”
Lisse would be damned if he’d let his new friend get sick or hurt when he was right here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2024 2:11 pm
“N-no, it’s not like that,” Dering said quickly. “I–sorry, I was just–”
He did feel dizzy, but he knew it was his fault. He’d shared his identity before, he didn’t know why this was so–
He didn’t know why his stomach was flopping. He didn’t know why he was so anxious. He didn’t want to mess things up with Luke if it was his friend? Maybe he was afraid of disappointing him. He wasn’t even a very good Squire, what if he let everyone down?
What if he was wrong?
For a few seconds more, he stayed rooted to the spot. Then, as if he were speaking through a mouthful of nails, he whispered, “Is your name Luke?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2024 2:44 pm
Lisse still looked concerned, and finally reached out with his free hand to try and steady Dering. “Don’t apologize, I’m worried about you I…”
The next words from the other Squire’s mouth had him freezing, but then he slowly nodded, curious and a little cautious. But…this was an ally...a new friend…it didn’t really matter if he knew who he was…right?
“Uh…yeah. My name’s Luke…when I’m not Lisse…uh…may I ask how you know that?” He didn’t sound angry, he wasn’t angry just…
Just deeply confused.
“Have we met before? And I just forgot?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2024 8:02 am
It took every ounce of willpower to stay still and not pull away. It wasn’t that he didn’t like or trust Luke! He was just overwhelmed, and everything felt so heavy. He was keenly aware of the weight of the fabric against his skin, or the pressure of the air around him. He felt like he could hear for miles around him, and even the soft glow of the lamplights stung his eyes.
The air was cold in his nose, down his throat, in his lungs.
“I’m okay,” he said insistently, although it was hardly more than a whisper. He had to forcibly clear his throat again.
Rip it off, like a bandaid. Just get it over with.
“Your–”
No, he lost his voice. He had to try again.
“Your roommate…”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2024 10:14 am
Lisse wasn’t sure what he should do. Clearly Dering was having some kind of…seizure or…or something? Now he was talking about Julian? Asking about Julian?
“I’m…okay…” He took a breath to try to calm himself down, and after a moment, not feeling any other auras around, he let his powered form fade to where he was Luke again and withdrew his phone. “...Do you want me to call someone? My roommate’s name is Julian…ah…do you know him? He’s pretty great, I agree…”
If that wasn’t what was being said, okay, right now, he just wanted to see that Dering was okay.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2024 10:42 am
Dering gave him an almost helpless look. He should power down but he couldn’t focus enough to dismiss his magic.
There was no way this was a trick. He wasn’t sure if he felt calmer seeing Luke or if it just added to his stress. He didn’t want to mess things up! Luke was going to think he was pathetic after all of this! He was a Squire! He’d faced the Negaverse, he’d protected his friends, he’d been to his Wonder.
Why was this so nerve-wracking!
“No, Luke,” he said, and even if he was a bit breathless, he forced himself to stay focused. “I am Julian.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2024 10:45 am
Luke paused and blinked slowly, frowning as he tried to take it in. At first he didn’t really understand, but…
Okay. Maybe it made some sense…kind of.
“Well, good. I guess that means we don’t have to keep lying to one another about being late, yeah? Makes it easier when we’re both…ah…”
He gave a small, sheepish smile. “I always knew you were awesome.”
Hopefully that didn’t sound too pathetic, but really, Luke couldn’t think of anything else to say…and…he hoped that was at least…supportive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
