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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.

Takes place after Stars and Sharps

Space… that had been more than enough excitement for Aloysius for the season and it had his back aching from where he’d gotten slammed into the wall. It took time for him to recover, most of which was spent laying in bed or under the hot water of the shower or bath. Liam had helped, as always, so things weren’t as bad as they could have been.

He’d ordered some things for delivery while he’d been laying in bed, one such order had been from a local event runner with some paper lanterns. The idea seemed nice and the fact they had seeds that would grow into plants down the line was really interesting. It was something he didn’t mind setting off with Liam, partially in celebration of them being engaged. Just thinking about it as he lay in bed had his cheeks warming as he smiled. It felt good to be someone’s fiance, to have his worries quashed again and again by them.

So once the Advil and icy hot patch had soothed the last bit of pain away, he sat up in bed and texted Liam letting him know to come up when he got home from another trip out with Melody. They’d been going shopping to various places while he was down for the count, leaving him with Desiree so that he wasn’t alone. It was good that they had because he missed them terribly when they were gone, though he wasn’t as worried about things when they were out as a civilian as he was when they were on patrol.

Hearing Melody’s voice downstairs and then a bit of shuffling before the door closed again with just Liam inside, Aloysius finished braiding his hair again finally after taking a brush to it. It had taken a bit more time than usual from the bed head he’d had from sleeping so much to recover. It had been peaceful rest at least, which had honestly surprised him after how stressed the whole mission had been with his lieutenant getting sucked out into space momentarily and worrying about his fiance meeting that same fate.

Leaning over himself, stretching his back carefully, he groaned before reaching back to try and apply another icy hot patch. He felt absolutely ancient the past few days, especially because Liam had been extra careful with him. When he heard the familiar creak of footsteps coming up the stairs, he slid himself off the bed and stood carefully. In comfy pajama pants and a t shirt that was a bit small on him now, he stretched carefully and picked up his glasses from the night stand. “How was shopping darling? Did Melody load you up like a pack mule again?” Joking only slightly, he knew what she was capable of when it came to clothes shopping.

“Oh, I hope I get to see what you picked out soon. I really have liked the last few outfits you picked up.” Pressing a kiss to their cheek, he hugged them back and rested his chin on their shoulder.

“I feel alright, old, but alright. I put another patch on but I still have a bit of an odd tingle down one of my legs. I think I might have pulled something when I hit that wall but at least it kept me from going out to space.” Which, in hindsight would have only been for a bit and not life threatening but he hadn’t known that at the time. “I did miss you, I always do, but Desiree kept me company up until she started snoring. She slinked off when she heard Melody so she may be around the house napping somewhere else in one of the nests you set up for her.”

Laughing a little, he squeezed them a bit. “I could eat, maybe something light or we could order in. I wanted to set those lanterns I got off in the back garden so that maybe next spring we may have some interesting new flowers blooming. I also thing I might like to see Alexandre get a headache over it messing with his pet project of sprucing up our property.” He appreciated the blonde but sometimes, he did want to see a bit more of this other side of them that their partner had talked about. It was completely foreign to him and the reason he was still very careful with what he spoke of around them, making sure Liam was more careful as well except around Lorcan. Though they were related, Lorcan was more worried about the letter of the law when it came to doctor patient confidentiality and it meant they could be more open about what he’d been through at least when it came to Negaverse related injuries.

"Perhaps sore but tired too, not in a sleepy way but body tired. I think it might have to do with my sleep being a bit poorer with my back hurting but I should be alright soon. At least hopefully I will feel better before the next time you bring me to the spa." It had been a good idea they'd had and the first visit had gone well, leaving him falling asleep on the car ride home after it all from how relaxed he'd been and the relief from his normal level of back pain.

"That could work, maybe a bit of pasta for later with shrimp? Something with fish for Desiree as well, we both know she will be upset if we leave her out of things." Smiling a bit, he felt his stomach growl slightly before he began his slow walk toward the downstairs living room.

"I think it might be interesting to see if what René says is true, plus I have a feeling we may not have a repeat of them breaking into my home just to start a fight. The only thing it seems we have to worry about is stepping outside into a brand new garden each season and forgetting that this is our home." It was a whiplash of a change but it wasn't a bad one, if anything he welcomed the idea of a less violent side to things.

"The couch would be good to sit on while we wait, I have a feeling if I lay back down I may just go for another nap. And while you may say I need the rest, I really want to avoid sleeping away the entire summer I have free with my fiancé."

Thinking for a moment as he settled carefully down onto the couch, shifting a pillow behind his back as he stretched his long legs out. "Maybe... it could help, and that sauna they have for before and after. You will have to drive again if you are comfortable with that. I know you are still getting used to it and practicing with me. I am sorry I fell asleep last time, it happens pretty often when someone drives me somewhere. That and I think I may have dozed off a few times during the massage once I got over my nerves." They'd helped by holding his hand a bit during things at first, that assuredness he needed that things would be okay and nobody would say anything about how he had scars that begged for people to ask questions.

"I am surprised, to be honest, it is refreshing to see him as dedicated to something mundane as he is to killing senshi and knights." Because he couldn't really say the same, at least in normal situations, his strength was more in gathering information and exploring the Rift instead of dispatching order members. There were moments though, when he did fight, Liam had seen it even if it was rare.

"I can ask him maybe next spring, I have a feeling it may not do the trees well to plant them in the heat during the summer. I like the idea of an apple tree, that, or maybe peaches if they would do well here. I still lack a lot of information about those things though. Roses and ivy are about the extent of what I know and the ivy is only because you wanted me to make sure we could keep it." Teasing slightly as he leaned his head into the cushion and folded his arms over his stomach, getting comfortable enough without falling asleep again.

Puffing his cheeks slightly in a pout, he pulled the blanket from the back of the couch and got comfortable. "You are getting better at driving, a lot quicker than I assume Mel did. I saw the body shop expenses she had on the account I gave her." Pulling the blanket up to his chin, he nodded in agreement over the ladies who Liam had found at the spa. They were nice, even if he did find himself dozing sometimes.

"I will ask, though I really have no clue what fruits or berries will last through the winters here. I know Alexandre would know and may be able to find something you might like. Does that mean you might make tarts at home?" It would be interesting to see them try baking a bit more, it was a lot harder than the cooking they had picked up so far.

Poking them back he smiled and watched as they hurried off. "I like seeing you smile so I wanted to make sure I could keep the ivy around." Looking over at the table, he saw the small bag of delivery that held the lanterns. That would be for later though, when the sun had set and they would be able to watch them glow in the night sky.

"I can help if you want to bake, though we still would have to pick up books in English for you to learn. It will take a while longer for your Italian to pick up enough to decipher my Nonna's writing and shorthand." Even now he only knew it because he'd helped her in the kitchen from time to time when he was young.

He did feel the slightest bit bad about them having to drive without him awake to help, but he did like being able to rely on them. It wasn't something he'd really been able to do with someone before and again and again Liam had been able to handle it.

Leaning his head on their shoulder as they spoke, it was hard still not to have a slightly sour face when the mention of talking with his sister came up even if things were much better now than they had been between them in a long time. The ideas they were mentioning all sounded quaint, something rather homey and nice which did fit more of the image he had known his grandfather to lean into. Things had changed slightly under Mel's management but he hadn't the time or wherewithal to handle things for years. Now it was nice not having to manage anything other than the crafting and occasional renegotiation of contracts with suppliers.

"I like the sound of that, of a tree and bringing a bit of that homey wonder that goes alongside the holidays. The idea of masks sounds interesting as well, though I may want to try and have them be music-related as well still to keep things in the same vein. Though I wonder if you bring this up because you want us to go on a vacation or honeymoon?" Raising an eyebrow as he looked at them with a slight smile on his face.

"I think it would be a good project for you to work on and since you are working under Melody for this as well it would be good for you both to make sure things go smoothly. I trust you to make sure things align with what I like just as I trust Melody to keep things profitable. Also... maybe we could do a trial run here at the house. It has been... a while since there has been a tree up here. It would be nice to decorate one together?" Sounding a bit cautious yet hopeful as he brought up the idea, he'd not really celebrated any holidays or birthdays in a long time other than Liam's. There just hadn't been the motivation or need to celebrate in his opinion for a long while but that changed with Liam around.