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 Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2024 8:33 pm
Starlight’s Wonder was built right into the mountainside in an impressive, if not arrogant, display of craftsmanship. Not quite at the summit, though with a path built in straight to the top of the mountain, Starlight was safely fortified from the harsh snowstorms on all sides but one.
Thick glass windows stretched from floor to ceiling, and for the first time in a long time, there wasn’t a snowstorm to obstruct the view. There was a beautiful view of the mountain range around them, and though the sky was dark and purple, there was a faint glow of orange on the horizon. A sky full of stars were visible, but there were already clouds rolling in again.
The room was dark, so when Starlight arrived with Whisler and Newgrange it was at first difficult to see. He hurried across the room and explained as he moved, “Just a moment, please. I can get the lights going.”
He had to light a candle, but when he placed it in the sconce it reflected a great deal of light thanks to the mirrors backing it. He hurried across the room and lit a few more candles, until the entire space was lit up with a soft, warm light.
There was an air of elegance about the space; it looked like the room was meant to be a gathering space, and there were many chairs. Rich paintings and expensive furniture decorated the area in shades of blues and purples. It had a very elegant, professional aura. There were shelves lined with books, and beautiful paintings lining the walls, and an ornate staircase that led to rooms deeper within the mountain.
Maps, of land and stars, were prominent, and there were a few globes of other worlds on display.
“There’s a switch for electricity but it’s fickle. I was thinking about asking if a Mauvian might be able to help me look at it. I don’t understand it very well and want to be safe,” he explained, and gestured to what appeared to be large light fixtures built into the ceiling.
The room, visibly some sort of lobby or common room, indicated a scholarly sort. It had been well maintained, once, and seemed still to be regal and timeless. There wasn’t a spec of dust in the area despite centuries of disuse. Starlight was a bit nervous to have company, despite having no influence on the Wonder he had been entrusted.
“I can light a fire, it’s a bit chilly. A lot of these rooms outside of this one are still locked, I’ve been trying to find a way to open them. Sometimes I find a door that was locked before but it’s unlocked now. I don’t think anyone else is here. So I thought, maybe the cold has something to do with it, like the doors are just sticking? But,” he shrugged quickly, dismissively. “I don’t really know. But, there is one area I was thinking I might like to look at? I don’t know if the Code piece is there, but it seems like it was well fortified. And it’s much further back, so it’s very safe. The last time I was here, I noticed something felt strange. The air was heavy, I felt like I was being pulled towards it before, I just couldn't get the door open. So,” he looked towards the staircase. “Maybe we should start there?”
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Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2024 5:42 pm
“It’s beautiful, Starlight.” Whisler looked around, impressed by how different the wonder was from his own. Electricity? He wondered if he had it in the past as well, and honestly…talking with a Mauvian about it was a great idea, and one which he would think about later.
He nodded, reaching out and lacing fingers with Newgrange, pleased that they were all doing this together. “If you think that’s the place, follow your instincts. That’s what happened to me. I hadn’t…honestly, I really hadn’t ever questioned the place that mine was hidden, but if you have a gut reaction, follow it. Always.”
It seemed as though half of what being a Knight was, was simply following your gut. It wasn’t bad, it just…
Could be a lot.
“If you feel that it’s a safe place, that’s a very good start. We’re right behind you.”
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Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2024 5:49 pm
Newgrange seemed to be taking everything in as well. Both Whisler and Starlight’s Wonders were so different from his own.
“Ah,” Starlight sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “I just hate being wrong. Don’t judge me if I am,” he insisted, but he was already making his way towards the stairs. The handrail was cold to the touch but he placed his palm atop the smooth metal and let the sensation calm him as he ascended.
It wasn’t completely silent when they weren’t speaking. Sometimes the winds outside were audible, and that was preferable to the creaking sound of metal that came from deeper within the building. It wasn’t loud enough to give Starlight pause, but Newgrange’s eyes narrowed at the first low, metallic moan.
They’d reached the top of the staircase when Starlight said, “It does that sometimes. I really think it’s just the cold. Or maybe it’s the Wonder saying hello?” He sighed and looked a bit embarrassed as he flicked a switch on the top floor. A low electric hum radiated from it but things stayed dark.
He was just about to sigh and flick it off and try again when a dim glow erupted from some of the old bulbs above them and he breathed a sigh of relief. Being able to see would make it easier, even if the lights were dim and flickered often.
“I suppose I’ve been lucky to have someone guarding my Wonder with me,” Newgrange said as he admired the old and faded paintings along the walls they passed. “He hasn’t always made it easy but I’ve always been able to go to him when I had questions. When you get memories…is it often? Do they help you?” he asked, stroking Whisler’s hand as they followed Starlight.
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Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2024 6:51 pm
“Being wrong is just a part of life, kid. I’ve been wrong more times than I can count, the thing that matters is that you learn from things that you can. There are going to be things that you can’t learn from but…ah, you understand.”
He gave a little smile and enjoyed the thought of the Wonder saying hello. It was a friendly thought. It was…cute. Though, when Newgrange spoke of his ancestor, he gave a grimace. “I’ve…half wanted to have someone there to talk to me, but again….I have made so many mistakes, I feel like she would really dislike me. So…I’m kind of glad that I’ve never run into her.”
The lights were pretty, everything here was pretty and Whisler reached out, touching the wall lightly. “I don’t get memories very often…I’m not really sure why, maybe I just…don’t look for them? If that makes any sense.”
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Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2024 10:17 pm
Starlight’s head bobbed in agreement in front of them, but as he was sometimes keen to do he kept his thoughts to himself. Newgrange never minded, he knew it wasn’t anything personal. He was glad to be here and glad to support Starlight in any way that he could.
“It makes sense,” he reassured. “I don’t always see Aldwynn when I visit but I never know where he’s gone. I suppose there are still places I haven’t found yet, but I don’t mind if he wants to keep some areas to himself. He’s been there for a long time. Although, I don’t know if it’s just because he has other places to be or if it’s because he doesn’t always have the energy to manifest. It’s not really clear. But I wonder if memories are the same? If they’ve imprinted on your starseed, at least. Maybe it just takes a certain amount of synchronization to access them.”
“If that’s the case, I definitely need tips,” Starlight sighed. He’d slowed down only so he could pull open a single great door that led down to a nearly identical hallway. “I haven’t really had a single memory here. Or seen any ghosts.” Though sometimes the ominous rattling and strange sensations felt like they should count. “Why are you so worried about her disliking you?” he asked, this time holding the door open for the two older Knights. The lights in the next hallway were already on, and while there were many branching hallways and doors, Starlight was clearly leading them to the one on the other end of this one. “What did you do that she’d think was so bad?”
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Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2024 6:58 am
They were interesting thoughts, and things that Whisler hadn’t really ever considered…but, perhaps this was a good thing, having a reason to think on these things. At Starlight’s question though, he colored slightly. “I…have had a lot of doubts, I guess is the best way to put it. There were times when I stupidly…wanted to go back to the Negaverse. It was a very strong desire when the Code was…ill, but it’s been a desire that has…” He broke off and shook his head slightly. “Was quite prominent in my life…and I suppose I just…”
He shrugged continuing to follow. “I suppose I just don’t want to disappoint her. I’ve disappointed myself more than enough…I’m not sure I could really stand to disappoint someone who my powers came from?” It made no sense spoken out loud, but he hoped that Starlight would understand. Newgrange too.
“I’ve gotten a lot better with things, and I’m so happy with my life now, but…I guess I’m still afraid.”
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Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2024 12:35 pm
Starlight looked up at him with obvious alarm but he kept his lips pressed together tightly because he could see the expression on Newgrange’s face. There might have been more to the story; Newgrange wasn’t as good at hiding his emotions as Starlight was at reading them.
He hummed thoughtfully and nodded instead.
“Well, I’m glad that you’re here with us. I don’t know what life would be like without you. I don’t really know where I’d be without you.”
Starlight often struggled to be emotionally honest or blunt but now more than ever he felt safe enough to admit some of those things. Even if he had a plan before he didn’t know if it would work out–and honestly, this was the far better option. Better than anything he’d dreamed about before he met these two.
He continued through his Wonder, down the long hall as he followed the tug on his starseed.
It didn’t take long to find the Code piece. His feet knew the way well before he did.
In the dark, dusty room it was glowing uncertainly. It looked like there had been some small explosion; papers were scattered everywhere and the dust was still settling as if something had only just recently pulsed. Starlight had to raise a hand to his face and swat at the air. Newgrange coughed behind him.
The dust stung his eyes so Starlight squinted. The Code piece looked like it was going to pulse again so Starlight suggested, “Do you want–sorry, I don’t mean to kick you guys out, do you want to wait in the hallway while I try to figure this out? You can come in if you want, I just don’t know what it’s going to do.”
…And he didn’t know if he’d be able to focus if they were in there with him but he was going to try his best.
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Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2024 7:19 pm
Whistler wanted to…not protest, but say something to just make sure that Starlight knew that they were with him, but instead he gave a smile. “If you need us, we’ll be right outside. We love you.”
It was nothing but the truth, and afterwards, he reached out and took hold of Newgrange’s hand, stepping with him out into the hallway.
“You know. I think you and I are the luckiest men in the world to have the family that we have…”
He held Newgrange’s hand a little tighter. “...I’m so glad that I never gave in. And I’m so glad that you stayed willing to have me despite…”
Whistler wrinkled his nose and his smile was sad. Tired. “Despite who I am. I love you, you know. With all my heart.
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Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2024 7:25 pm
Newgrange hummed thoughtfully and nodded. He had thoughts on the subject but some things were better left unspoken, especially given the circumstances being what they were right now.
Sometimes he wondered why he still stayed with Whisler. It wasn’t like their relationship was perfect, and Newgrange wasn’t naive enough to think that there were only happy endings. Whisler could give him those sad, self-deprecating smiles and apologize all he wanted, but Newgrange had to wonder how much of his cheating was just who he was.
He smiled complacently. There was no trace of upset on his face. He’d made himself sick thinking about it before. He was mostly numb to the idea.
Nick had promised he was going to break off his side relationships, had sworn ‘it won’t happen again’.
Arias wanted to believe it.
‘Fool me once,’ whispered in the back of his mind, ‘Fool me twice.’
And yet, he stayed. He liked this little life they’d built together. Arias wasn’t looking for love in other places. He wasn’t even sure he’d ever been looking for it. He’d found Nick, though.
Arias wasn’t perfect. He’d just never betrayed Nick like that.
“You’re silly,” he said softly, into the quiet hallway. He didn’t think Whisler loved him with all his heart, who was he fooling? If he looked at it from an outside perspective, it was almost amusing. If someone else was looking in at their relationship, he wondered if they would think it was pathetic. If he was pathetic.
It didn’t matter. It was their life. Arias was happy enough.
Even if he was certain Whisler had carved out little places in his heart for every person he fell in love with. Whisler loved deeply and he loved often. Even if he wasn’t letting his heart make erratic, irresponsible decisions right now, it didn’t mean it wouldn’t happen again.
How long before Ashanite reared his head and Whisler found himself once again smitten by him and the Negaverse?
“I love you, too. It was some luck to have this family just fall into our lap though, wasn’t it?” Neither Caius nor Leah had been planned but he was happy with this outcome. “I don’t have to worry about the Negaverse seducing you so much when you’ve got such great kids at home.”
…Although Leah was technically so much older than them, she still had the heart of a teenager. She had such a love for life and learning about Earthly things, it was hard not to see her like any other kid growing up here and growing into themselves.
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Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2024 7:30 pm
“I’m not that silly…” Whisler sighed and squeezed Newgrange’s hand, drawing it to his lips and kissing the back of it. “I love our family, so much…and I was thinking…would you ever be…interested in maybe adding a planned child? Like…a baby? I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and like…” He shrugged and gave a little smile. “...I think I might be coming down with some baby fever? If you don’t want one, that’s perfectly fine, I can just pretend, but…” He shrugged. “Caius and Leah were both…they’re wonderful! And I love them, and can’t–don’t want to imagine life without them…but…a baby…I don’t know. It’s just something I wanted to let you know that I was thinking about.”
He felt almost shy in asking. Caius had been his idea, and Caius had brought Leah…honestly, he didn’t know, didn’t…want to push his desires on Arias. But.
“The Negaverse won’t seduce me again. I promise you that. I’m done chasing such foolish things. I am Whisler, and that’s who I plan on remaining.” Especially after this. After all of this. There was no way he would want to leave now.
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Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2024 7:31 pm
Of all the things Newgrange expected Whisler to say while Starlight was meditating with the Code it wasn’t that he wanted a baby.
“Are you sure?” he asked slowly. “Babies are a lot of work,” he cautioned. Arias got along well with children and if he were being honest, he probably would have liked to raise a child. They had two kids now but both of them were arguably adults. There hadn’t been any real parenting outside of guiding them as they started working towards their adult (Earthly) lives.
Truthfully, both of them could function without Arias or Nick. There was certainly an appeal about a baby–and his mother would love that–but Nick was a bit impulsive.
He might have been thinking about it for a while, but was he only thinking about all the good things? What about how expensive it would be? What about how time consuming? Where would they even find a baby? –And how long was a while? An hour? A day, a week, a month. A year?
It wasn’t that Arias was opposed to the idea, it was just a big idea. He wasn’t one to make bold or rash decisions without a lot of planning.
“We’d have to ask for their opinions,” he said, because it might have been his decision but he prioritized his wants and needs well below everyone else’s. He wouldn’t want to bring in another child into a house where anyone there might have struggled with the change.
“I mean, practically speaking–under the right circumstances, of course. But with the bakery, I already keep such an odd schedule. I can have people help me, but I still need to be in the kitchen. There’s a lot of work I can’t pass on to anyone else. Are you thinking about being a stay at home dad? It might mean we can’t go out and do this as much,” he said, gesturing vaguely to the hall around them.
They could get someone to babysit for them, sure, but–an infant? That was going to be a pretty big time sink and a big dedication. Not that a baby wasn’t worth those things! But practically speaking, it was also a major decision and if Whisler was already thinking about it, he’d rather hear what he’d figured out already.
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Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2024 7:41 pm
“I know they’re a lot of work. I’ve…I have been doing some research. I’ve got a few baby books on Kindle if you want to read them at some point. I just…” He shrugged. “It’s never going to be a good time to ask about it, and I’ve been putting it off and putting it off…but right now we were talking so fondly about Caius and I just…” He shrugged. “It bubbled out. And yes, please we have to ask the kids if they’re okay with it, I won’t just bring a new baby into the house that…”
…That honestly did sound like something he would do, but he didn’t want to do that. Not right now. He was trying to be better about his impulses.
“They deserve a say in it, they’re our kids too.” It would be a big step, and if…
“I would be happy to be a stay at home dad…and honestly, Arias, I’m happy to adopt any age. A baby…I have baby fever, full disclosure but I just…I would love a child who…” He glanced towards the room where Starlight worked on his Code piece. “Who is actually a child for longer than a year? As selfish as that sounds.”
Because it did sound selfish. And he felt selfish saying it but.
“I’ve been thinking of how to convert a room to a nursery too and I have several things bookmarked…I’m happy to go over any and all plans that have been cooking in my brain.” He gave a sheepish smile. “But…can you imagine if we could like…get little mascot suits of the characters Caius makes and our baby could wear them? Could you imagine how great that would be? How cute that would be?”
He practically had hearts in his eyes thinking about it.
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Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2024 7:44 pm
Newgrange followed Whisler’s gaze to the room where Starlight was still attempting to resonate with the Code. He could feel an electrical hum in the air, and the lights in the hallway flickered.
Nothing felt dangerous. He wasn’t on edge.
He believed in Caius. These things just took time. He trusted that he was doing everything right.
Whisler looked like he was fawning over his own idea. Newgrange didn’t have the heart to tell him that it sounded adorable as long as they weren’t plastering their kids all over the internet.
There was such a wholesome passion in Whisler’s dream, though. Newgrange wasn’t against the idea of a baby but he was thorough and responsible so he’d definitely need to go over more when they weren’t worrying about the Code piece.
“You’ll have to show me what you’ve been planning when we get home. After we figure out the feasibility of everything, we can ask Leah and Caius how they feel and go from there. But we can take some tentative steps in that direction. Carlee would probably love to be a fun aunt to a little kid who could appreciate it.”
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Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2024 7:46 pm
Whistler looked towards the door, his mouth falling into a slight frown. He should have been paying attention. He was here for Caius. For Starlight…but. It was just because of that which caused him to be comfortable enough to say what he had said. Family was foremost on his mind but Newgrange was right. “Carlee would be a fantastic aunt, and yes, you’re absolutely right. We’ll talk about this at home…I shouldn’t have gotten side tracked.”
It was horribly rude, and the guilt settled on his shoulders just slightly. Making this about himself…saying things at the wrong time. Doing the wrong things it.
Would it ever end?
He squeezed Newgrange’s hand tightly and put a smile back on. “I’m excited for him to get this fixed. I’m excited for all of this Code stuff to be over with…"
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Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2024 7:47 pm
“No, it’s all right,” Newgrange assured. “I know my attention is split right now. It’s a serious topic, I want to be able to give it my full concentration. It’s not like there’s much we can do right now but wait and see if Caius needs us,” he tried to assure. He didn’t want Whisler to feel bad about it but Newgrange didn’t have the means to actually research what would go into adoption, and he seriously doubted Whisler had brought any of his books or planning with him in his subspace.
“Sometimes you catastrophize things, Nick,” he said softly, and squeezed his hand. A part of him was amused, but a part of him also knew how prone he was to falling into dark pits. He didn’t want this to be some unintentional trigger.
“Don’t be silly. I just meant that I can’t check the cost of adoption or the requirements out here. We don’t have wifi.”
The lights burned brightly above them–and this time, they stayed on. The energy felt strangely stable–more than it had been since they arrived. Starlight didn’t emerge from the room but neither did there seem to be any distress from the other side of the door.
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