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 Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2024 4:27 pm
Quote: The Lantern Festival (7) : Scientists have been hard at work trying to understand the strange, glowing qualities of the luminescent caterpillars found in the caves by the reservoir. The caterpillars still shrivel up if they are taken out of the caves but their glowing secretions have been processed into an organic paste that can withstand the outside world. The city is selling paper lanterns infused with various seeds. The glow paste is full of minerals to support healthy plant growth without risking damage to the environment; all lantern purchases come with a small packet of activating power that will heat the paste up enough to mimic the effects of a candle without the concerns of flammability. When the glow paste loses its heat, the lantern will return to the Earth and upon the first rain (or any contact with water) the paper will dissolve and the seeds may begin to grow. All proceeds from the lanterns are put right back into the community to support local conservation and environmental protection efforts. It probably wasn't the wisest decision to go out like this. As Fang. Just to release a couple of lanterns into the sky. But... He wanted to experience this night as his full self, as much as he could, anyway. Being Todd with his tail out was too dangerous. It hurt, still did, always would, he suspected. There was an aspect of him that was always tense, when he was Fang, even now, long after he'd cleaned up the Chaos on his world. He had to be ready to fight. Just being Todd didn't have that. As long as he didn't have to wear his glamour, anyway. Wearing that made him tense in a different way. Sure, he was safe, but he'd never get used to the idea that his feelings would never be so plain. Hiding things like that... form what little he could recall of his culture as it had crumbled to pieces, lying like that had been difficult and not well-received. It rankled him. Still, it was what he'd had to get used to to enjoy life on Earth. To feel like a person again, something that felt beyond the hunt and the warmth of the pack. He still had these things—just in a different manner now—but he had so much more, as well. "Michel," he called out as he approached. He'd purchased the lanterns as Todd, of course, because despite his mild discomfort, he knew his safety was imperative, and he wouldn't have bought them as Fang just to have his ears and tail out. He kept them in his subspace as he approached his best friend, his pack leader. "Spend time? Have gift!"
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Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2024 1:14 pm
Michel tilted his head as Fang approached. Honestly, he’d only come out tonight because he was restless. In a way, he was looking for a fight. Or to get into trouble, or something irresponsible. He couldn’t really place the agitation. Sometimes it just built up.
And yet, he felt it almost instantly fizzle when Fang called to him.
He’d been ready to be annoyed at some Senshi disrupting his bad evening, but here was Fang, chasing it away all on his own.
Michel’s face relaxed and he even managed a brief smile. “Hey,” he greeted.
The gift wasn’t immediately obvious, so there was a split second where he wondered if Fang had found a fresh rabbit, or some unlit firework, or a frog or something undesirable but he decided to take a risk.
He’d have accepted anything Fang gave him, anyway.
“Yeah, I’ve got some free time. I don’t have a gift to exchange with you, though. What did you bring?”
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Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2024 2:43 pm
Fang felt a thrill at the smile—he knew smiling was hard for Michel, that his pack leader struggled to let himself be happy, so any time he saw Michel smile was a win. He loved that he made Michel happy. "No need," he assured, shaking his head. "Gift is gift. Never need gift back." Packs took care of each other, that was all he needed. Not wanting to make Michel wait even longer, he reached into his subspace and pulled out the lanterns, grinning widely and tail starting up an intense wag. "Fang buy the envi... Enviro... Nature-good lanterns," he said a little haltingly, but didn't let the trip of his words get him down. "Want put in sky with Michel. Fun!" He nodded to where he could see a few other lanterns taking off, from other people around the parks and forests, he assumed. It was a gorgeous sight, and he wanted to do it with Michel. It seemed like an excellent idea, and Fang wanted to help nature on Earth as much as he wanted to help his own home. "Will Michel do it with Fang?" he asked, grin never faltering. Even if Michel decided he didn't want to, Fang could still help planet Earth. And that was just as precious. Perhaps later he could watch a movie with Zac at home, or something.
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Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2024 7:28 pm
Michel half-turned to follow Fang’s gaze. He found the lanterns in the sky easily, and though the idea hadn’t really appealed to him before now, by the time he looked back to Fang he already knew he couldn’t say no.
A gift was a gift and wasn’t ever going to reject Fang’s kindness. Besides–his tail was wagging. What, was Michel going to be the one responsible for making it droop? No, he might have been a monster to some people but he couldn’t imagine being cruel to Fang.
“Yeah, that sounds like fun,” he said.
Destiny City had been doing things with lanterns for a while but Michel hadn’t ever really done much sans look out the window every now and then to spot one.
“Let’s find a good spot where we can watch them. There’s a clearing a little over this way, that should give us space.” He held out his hand to receive a lantern. He’d never been so close but he didn’t want to waste the opportunity while he had it. “Have you ever done this before?”
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Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2024 2:38 pm
Fang's tail wagged even faster—Michel gave him so much joy. His friend always made time for him, and he loved him for it. "No," he answered, handing Michel a lantern and following him off to the clearing. He noticed something glimmering in the grass as they walked along and he scooped up the pretty star charm, slipping it into his pocket. "Michel ready?" he asked, tail slowing a gentle, more contented wag as they stood by each other.
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2024 5:26 pm
At first, Michel wasn’t sure what Fang had stopped to pick up in the grass. It took a few seconds for it to register. “I’m ready, yeah.”
He adjusted the lantern in his hands but seemed to be waiting for Fang to let his off, first. Fang’s tail was such an unfair advantage when it came to reading him Michel would always be grateful for it. A smile twitched on his face and lingered there. Fang’s tail was wagging so much it was almost hitting his leg but Michel didn’t move away.
“Are you collecting those Star Charms? I found one while I was out earlier, do you want it?”
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2024 1:23 am
Fang nodded, took a deep breath, and then lifted the lantern up, letting it go as he exhaled slowly. Slowly, it rose, higher and higher into the air, a gentle breeze pushing it along, away from the initial spot where Fang and Michel stood. "Wow," he breathed softly, entranced by the vision. He glanced back to Michel, a soft smile on his face. "Yes, Fang want the charms! Please."
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2024 6:25 pm
Michel watched the lanterns for as long as Fang did. He didn’t even bother hiding the smile on his face.
The scene was relaxing. Peaceful.
He might not have deserved it, but Fang did.
“Here. I’ll keep an eye out for any others for you, too.”
He pulled the charm out of his pocket and held it out for Fang. He should have wanted to look at the lanterns again, to watch their glow fade as the wind swept them away. He liked seeing Fang’s smile, though. After all he’d been through, Michel found that there was peace there. Not that he’d ever admit it.
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Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2024 3:18 am
Fang gently took the charm from Michel's hand, feeling happier than he ever had before. Everything seemed so perfect. He'd cleansed his home, he'd kissed Ilse, and now he was standing here in the twilight, bonding with Michel. He hoped nothing would ever change between them, that everything would stay perfect like this. "Thanks, for coming," he finally said, putting the charm in his pocket and smiling widely. "Michel always make Fang very happy."
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Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2024 7:32 am
Fang had a way of making things seem so simple. Michel was always overcomplicating things. Everything had layers on layers on layers. He wasn’t a planner by any great stretch of the word, he just understood that consequences came from every choice, and he’d made some bad ones.
For good reasons, though.
Standing out here now, of course he wondered if he was inevitably putting some sort of target on Fang’s head just by associating with him.
He did his best to keep everyone at a distance. At least, as Michel.
There were no energy signatures nearby but he knew that didn’t necessarily mean no one was around. He’d relied on such deception when he’d been hunting the Negaverse. Michel was sure he’d cleared the area well enough to lower his guard.
At least, a little bit.
“Yeah,” he said after a moment. “You make me happy, too.”
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