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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.
Juliette06
This was the twins’ favorite part of the whole festival: the lanterns. Even before they’d seen Tangled, they’d been fascinated by the lanterns floating into the sky, disappearing off into forever. It was just so beautiful, it always got them to just be - quiet, which was no little feat when one of the two of them was Mason, who hadn’t stopped talking since he learned how. It was a big deal for Madeline, too, but in a different way - it got her mind to be silent, for just a little while. It didn’t happen often enough, but the lantern festival was a guarantee of peace, even if just for a few minutes.
What Madeline was not having the best time with was the fact that this year, they were opening their tradition to someone else: a stranger, at least to Madeline. To Mason, it was ‘just Halia!’, and ‘a friend!’, and ‘someone fun to hang out with!’, and whatever else, but to Madeline, she was a stranger, encroaching on her special, peaceful time with her brother.
But then again, that was the name of the game lately; ever since Mason had…what was the term, awoken, their life had been invaded by magic, and strangers, and magical strangers. Mason was out almost every other night, either ‘patrolling’ like he was some kind of amateur police officer, or with his boyfriend.
Boyfriend. Honestly.
But Mason had given her the big puppydog eyes and asked her to be nice, so she’d be nice, because there was nothing she wouldn’t do for her baby brother, even when she really, really didn’t want to.
So she’d put on her cute little dress and her cute little shoes and she was walking arm and arm with her brother while they fought their way through the crowds to the pre-established meeting point Mason had set with Halia.
“Okay, perfect,” Mason said, giving Madeline a big grin. He was almost vibrating with excitement, and his smile was infectious as it ever was, so she couldn’t help but smile back. “Wait right here.”
“Wait, what?” Madeline said, her smile falling sharply as Mason wriggled out of her grasp. “What do you mean wait–Mason. Mason!”
But he was already gone, disappearing back into the crowd, heading heaven only knew where, and leaving Madeline to greet Halia, whenever she arrived.
She was going to kill her stupid baby brother. Kill him dead, magic or no magic.
What Madeline was not having the best time with was the fact that this year, they were opening their tradition to someone else: a stranger, at least to Madeline. To Mason, it was ‘just Halia!’, and ‘a friend!’, and ‘someone fun to hang out with!’, and whatever else, but to Madeline, she was a stranger, encroaching on her special, peaceful time with her brother.
But then again, that was the name of the game lately; ever since Mason had…what was the term, awoken, their life had been invaded by magic, and strangers, and magical strangers. Mason was out almost every other night, either ‘patrolling’ like he was some kind of amateur police officer, or with his boyfriend.
Boyfriend. Honestly.
But Mason had given her the big puppydog eyes and asked her to be nice, so she’d be nice, because there was nothing she wouldn’t do for her baby brother, even when she really, really didn’t want to.
So she’d put on her cute little dress and her cute little shoes and she was walking arm and arm with her brother while they fought their way through the crowds to the pre-established meeting point Mason had set with Halia.
“Okay, perfect,” Mason said, giving Madeline a big grin. He was almost vibrating with excitement, and his smile was infectious as it ever was, so she couldn’t help but smile back. “Wait right here.”
“Wait, what?” Madeline said, her smile falling sharply as Mason wriggled out of her grasp. “What do you mean wait–Mason. Mason!”
But he was already gone, disappearing back into the crowd, heading heaven only knew where, and leaving Madeline to greet Halia, whenever she arrived.
She was going to kill her stupid baby brother. Kill him dead, magic or no magic.
Lena Roze
Meeting new people gave Halia anxiety. That was a fairly constant thing for her. She needed to remind herself, however, that she had in fact already met Mason's sister back when they went to school together. Still, it wasn't as if they'd been besties or anything, so virtually still a stranger, and therefore still anxiety inducing.
She wasn't quite sure why, but tonight, Halia had gone out of her way to dress up just a little. She picked a blush pink dress, low heels, and even went so far as to do her hair and makeup. Her hair was pulled partially back and held in place with pink sparkling flower clips with dangling crystals, and her makeup was simple but cute. She told herself it was just so she made a good impression, convinced there was no other reason she would dress up just to meet a friend and his sister. Because there was no way it could have anything to do with anything else, right?
Carefully making her way through the crowd, Halia kept her eyes open for the twins, feeling anxious as she narrowly avoided being collided with. Finally, she spotted a familiar face and gently pushed through the crowd as she made her way over to Madeline, smiling apologetically. “Sorry if I'm late. I got a little lost.” She hoped the younger girl remembered and recognized her. If she didn't, that would add a whole extra layer of awkward.
She wasn't quite sure why, but tonight, Halia had gone out of her way to dress up just a little. She picked a blush pink dress, low heels, and even went so far as to do her hair and makeup. Her hair was pulled partially back and held in place with pink sparkling flower clips with dangling crystals, and her makeup was simple but cute. She told herself it was just so she made a good impression, convinced there was no other reason she would dress up just to meet a friend and his sister. Because there was no way it could have anything to do with anything else, right?
Carefully making her way through the crowd, Halia kept her eyes open for the twins, feeling anxious as she narrowly avoided being collided with. Finally, she spotted a familiar face and gently pushed through the crowd as she made her way over to Madeline, smiling apologetically. “Sorry if I'm late. I got a little lost.” She hoped the younger girl remembered and recognized her. If she didn't, that would add a whole extra layer of awkward.
Juliette06
Madeline recognized Halia, very faintly; not to the extent that she would’ve known her to call out in the crowd or anything, but, yeah, she more or less lined up with the mental picture she’d assembled since Mason started talking about her. She was pretty, which surprised Madeline not at all - of course she was pretty. Of course she was.
“You’re fine,” Madeline said, reminding herself to smile - she’d promised she’d be nice, so she would be nice (at least to Halia - she might still end up murdering her brother, it was too soon to tell). “You’re right on time. You look great, by the way,” she added, because it was true, and because if she didn’t she was going to keep thinking ‘of course she’s pretty’ in increasingly poisonous tones in her head, and that would do no good.
“Mason’s just–he just left, I don’t even know where–”
“I’m here!” Mason called, shoving his way through the throng of people to join up with the girls. He gave them a breathless grin, his hands folded behind his back. “And I have presents!” Mason added excitedly, holding his hands out. He turned them palm up and uncurled his fingers, revealing three sparkling opal StarCharms in his palms.
“I wanted to get us a little somethin’ to remember tonight,” he explained eagerly, big huge 100-million-watt smile never leaving his face. “And now we can all match!”
Madeline took hers with just a moment of hesitation - she and Mason both collected the StarCharms, every year, and opal was the only color they both needed. She knew, objectively, logically, that lots and lots of people collected StarCharms, and that it wasn’t like they were unique to the twins or anything, but–it still ruffled her feathers that this stranger got one too. That was their thing.
But she’d promised she’d be nice, so she forced a smile to her face. “Thanks, Mase,” she said, then turned to Halia and explained, “We collect the Charms every year, this was the last one we needed. Do you collect them too?”
“You’re fine,” Madeline said, reminding herself to smile - she’d promised she’d be nice, so she would be nice (at least to Halia - she might still end up murdering her brother, it was too soon to tell). “You’re right on time. You look great, by the way,” she added, because it was true, and because if she didn’t she was going to keep thinking ‘of course she’s pretty’ in increasingly poisonous tones in her head, and that would do no good.
“Mason’s just–he just left, I don’t even know where–”
“I’m here!” Mason called, shoving his way through the throng of people to join up with the girls. He gave them a breathless grin, his hands folded behind his back. “And I have presents!” Mason added excitedly, holding his hands out. He turned them palm up and uncurled his fingers, revealing three sparkling opal StarCharms in his palms.
“I wanted to get us a little somethin’ to remember tonight,” he explained eagerly, big huge 100-million-watt smile never leaving his face. “And now we can all match!”
Madeline took hers with just a moment of hesitation - she and Mason both collected the StarCharms, every year, and opal was the only color they both needed. She knew, objectively, logically, that lots and lots of people collected StarCharms, and that it wasn’t like they were unique to the twins or anything, but–it still ruffled her feathers that this stranger got one too. That was their thing.
But she’d promised she’d be nice, so she forced a smile to her face. “Thanks, Mase,” she said, then turned to Halia and explained, “We collect the Charms every year, this was the last one we needed. Do you collect them too?”
Lena Roze
“Thank you! You look wonderful, Madeline.” She gave her a small but warm smile, then frowned when she heard Mason took off. “I hope he isn't doing anything reckless….” Her worry was immediately put to rest when the boy in question returned.
All Halia had to do was see him and she lit up like a Christmas tree, as if someone had switched the sun on. “Oh! I was hoping to find this one, thank you! I'll add it to the violet one you gave me the other night!” She gently took the offered charm and added it to her bag where it sat delicately beside the one he gave her when she revealed her power up.
At Madeline's question, Halia turned her attention back to the girl, shaking her head. “No, this is my first year getting any of them. They're absolutely lovely though, so I see why you collect them. It makes me wish I had collected them last year.” She glanced back down at her bag, fingers brushing over the two charms gently with a fond smile. She would treasure these.
“I've never really gotten to do any of the events with the festival before now. Last year I watched some of the shooting stars from a rooftop in the city, but this is the first time I've participated in anything. I… thought it was time to start being part of things.”
Glancing over at Mason, Halia spoke a bit more quietly. “Sorry for not getting here sooner. Patrol ran a little longer than I anticipated.” She figured that by now, Madeline was likely someone safe to talk about magical things around, so it wouldn't do any harm to mention it.
All Halia had to do was see him and she lit up like a Christmas tree, as if someone had switched the sun on. “Oh! I was hoping to find this one, thank you! I'll add it to the violet one you gave me the other night!” She gently took the offered charm and added it to her bag where it sat delicately beside the one he gave her when she revealed her power up.
At Madeline's question, Halia turned her attention back to the girl, shaking her head. “No, this is my first year getting any of them. They're absolutely lovely though, so I see why you collect them. It makes me wish I had collected them last year.” She glanced back down at her bag, fingers brushing over the two charms gently with a fond smile. She would treasure these.
“I've never really gotten to do any of the events with the festival before now. Last year I watched some of the shooting stars from a rooftop in the city, but this is the first time I've participated in anything. I… thought it was time to start being part of things.”
Glancing over at Mason, Halia spoke a bit more quietly. “Sorry for not getting here sooner. Patrol ran a little longer than I anticipated.” She figured that by now, Madeline was likely someone safe to talk about magical things around, so it wouldn't do any harm to mention it.
Juliette06
“Everything okay?” Mason asked, brow wrinkling slightly; Madeline had all but forbade him from powering up today, and he was suddenly worried that his taking the day off had put his friend in danger. He gave her the quick once over - she didn’t look hurt, but looks could be deceiving.
Madeline stared at the two of them - not even five minutes into this supposed ‘group hangout session’ or whatever Mason had called it when he was wheedling her into this, and they were already talking about stuff she had no clue about and had no way to participate in.
Be nice, be nice, be nice…
“Mase, she’s fine, relax,” Madeline said with a good-natured roll of her eyes. “She wouldn’t be here if she was too hurt or something to show up, right, Halia?” Madeline gave Halia a fixed smile that did not leave much room for argument. “We should get our lanterns before they sell out, don’t you two think so?”
Madeline stared at the two of them - not even five minutes into this supposed ‘group hangout session’ or whatever Mason had called it when he was wheedling her into this, and they were already talking about stuff she had no clue about and had no way to participate in.
Be nice, be nice, be nice…
“Mase, she’s fine, relax,” Madeline said with a good-natured roll of her eyes. “She wouldn’t be here if she was too hurt or something to show up, right, Halia?” Madeline gave Halia a fixed smile that did not leave much room for argument. “We should get our lanterns before they sell out, don’t you two think so?”
Lena Roze
“I'm fine, Mason. I promise.” Her smile was warm and gentle. “I….ran into someone and cheered them up, that's all.”
She gave Madeline an apologetic smile. “I uh. Assume Mason told you I'm…. Like him? Kind of?” She wasn't sure how much Mason had told his sister, so she wanted to feel it out.
“Yes! We should go get our lanterns! I'm excited, I've never done this before.” She practically radiated sunshine as she beamed, excited to finally do something she had only heard about.
She gave Madeline an apologetic smile. “I uh. Assume Mason told you I'm…. Like him? Kind of?” She wasn't sure how much Mason had told his sister, so she wanted to feel it out.
“Yes! We should go get our lanterns! I'm excited, I've never done this before.” She practically radiated sunshine as she beamed, excited to finally do something she had only heard about.
Juliette06
Madeline raised her eyebrows slightly. “Mason tells me everything,” she said, pointedly, deciding for now to skip over the part where she did not, in fact, know Halia’s ‘secret identity’, or whatever they called it. Powered name, she thought, was what Mason had called it, when he explained that he couldn’t reveal someone else’s secrets, but in Madeline’s opinion, ‘secret identity’ was faster and more easily understood anyway. She also did not miss the way Mason’s eyes darted away from her own when she looked at him - he did tell her everything, right?
“Kind of,” Madeleine agreed vaguely. “How long have you lived here? How have you never done this before? It’s the best part of the whole summer.” Madeline straightened her shoulders and, having assigned herself the role of ‘outing leader’, settled into the part. “Come on. Lanterns, then dinner. Have you tried the special snacks? They’re delicious, and they only make them during Starfest. C’mon, this way,” Madeline said, promptly making a beeline for a certain stall a little ways down.
Mason followed his sister, but hung a bit behind, falling into step with Halia. “Sorry,” he said, giving her a sheepish smile. “Mads is sort of…” Mason let out a heavy breath. “Well, she’s…um, well, you know. I promise she’s not really as crazy as she seems?” It felt like a weak defense of his favorite person in the whole world, but–well, Mads wasn’t doing herself any favors, was she? Hadn’t he told–asked–begged her to be nice? He knew she was capable of being much nicer than this, so why wasn’t she? What had Halia ever done to her except literally save Mason’s life?
…Well, he realized, he hadn’t actually told her that part. He’d just said he knew Halia from his magical thing, in an effort to protect Aruna’s secret identity, as he promised he would. He had asked Halia if he could share with his sister, and she’d agreed, but when he’d opened his mouth to do so, nothing came out. He just couldn’t quite bring himself to do it, betraying another powered person’s identity.
He trusted his sister, of course, but he also knew his sister. He would never forgive himself, or her, if in a fit of pique she blabbed to someone she shouldn’t and got herself or Halia hurt, so until he was absolutely positive such a thing would never happen…
Well, it didn’t hurt Mads any to think that Halia and Aruna were two separate people, did it?
“Kind of,” Madeleine agreed vaguely. “How long have you lived here? How have you never done this before? It’s the best part of the whole summer.” Madeline straightened her shoulders and, having assigned herself the role of ‘outing leader’, settled into the part. “Come on. Lanterns, then dinner. Have you tried the special snacks? They’re delicious, and they only make them during Starfest. C’mon, this way,” Madeline said, promptly making a beeline for a certain stall a little ways down.
Mason followed his sister, but hung a bit behind, falling into step with Halia. “Sorry,” he said, giving her a sheepish smile. “Mads is sort of…” Mason let out a heavy breath. “Well, she’s…um, well, you know. I promise she’s not really as crazy as she seems?” It felt like a weak defense of his favorite person in the whole world, but–well, Mads wasn’t doing herself any favors, was she? Hadn’t he told–asked–begged her to be nice? He knew she was capable of being much nicer than this, so why wasn’t she? What had Halia ever done to her except literally save Mason’s life?
…Well, he realized, he hadn’t actually told her that part. He’d just said he knew Halia from his magical thing, in an effort to protect Aruna’s secret identity, as he promised he would. He had asked Halia if he could share with his sister, and she’d agreed, but when he’d opened his mouth to do so, nothing came out. He just couldn’t quite bring himself to do it, betraying another powered person’s identity.
He trusted his sister, of course, but he also knew his sister. He would never forgive himself, or her, if in a fit of pique she blabbed to someone she shouldn’t and got herself or Halia hurt, so until he was absolutely positive such a thing would never happen…
Well, it didn’t hurt Mads any to think that Halia and Aruna were two separate people, did it?
Lena Roze
Halia glanced at Mason, smiling softly before quietly murmuring to his sister. “Im Aruna…” It warmed her heart that he didn't tell her, that he kept her secret for her.
She laughed softly at the question. “Born and raised here. I uh. Didn't have the world's most loving upbringing. You know my sister, though, I believe. Maya? That should tell you a lot….”
Bumping lightly against Mason with her shoulder, she smiled softly up at him. “It's okay. She's protective of you. I think it's sweet. And…. I kinda get it, honestly. Even though it isn't like that now, I used to be similar in regards to my own sibling. I get it. So don't worry, okay? I'm not upset.” Without thinking, she reached up and squeezed his shoulder, wanting to reassure him.
She laughed softly at the question. “Born and raised here. I uh. Didn't have the world's most loving upbringing. You know my sister, though, I believe. Maya? That should tell you a lot….”
Bumping lightly against Mason with her shoulder, she smiled softly up at him. “It's okay. She's protective of you. I think it's sweet. And…. I kinda get it, honestly. Even though it isn't like that now, I used to be similar in regards to my own sibling. I get it. So don't worry, okay? I'm not upset.” Without thinking, she reached up and squeezed his shoulder, wanting to reassure him.
Juliette06
Mason was just opening his mouth to say he did understand but Madeline wasn’t that bad when he crashed right directly into the girl. “Ow, Mads!” Mason whined. “Brake lights, jeeze!”
Madeleine turned to look at them, somehow utterly unmoved by her brother walking fully into her. “Wait. Did you just say that you’re Ar–”
“Mads!” Mason yelped. “You can’t just say that at top volume!” Mason said, exasperated, but pleased at least that Halia trusted his sister–and thus he himself–enough to include her in the circle of people who knew about all parts of her life. “It’s supposed to be a secret, can we maybe talk about this somewhere that’s not in the middle of everything and everyone?”
Reluctantly, Madeline let herself be moved out of the main walkway and into a relatively empty alcove, just a few paces away from their target stall.
“You’re Aruna? The one who–” Madeline looked from Halia to Mason and back again. “Who saved him? That night? From the…the monster thing?”
“The youma,” Mason provided, gently. “Yeah, Mads. She…she saved me.”
Madeleine turned to look at them, somehow utterly unmoved by her brother walking fully into her. “Wait. Did you just say that you’re Ar–”
“Mads!” Mason yelped. “You can’t just say that at top volume!” Mason said, exasperated, but pleased at least that Halia trusted his sister–and thus he himself–enough to include her in the circle of people who knew about all parts of her life. “It’s supposed to be a secret, can we maybe talk about this somewhere that’s not in the middle of everything and everyone?”
Reluctantly, Madeline let herself be moved out of the main walkway and into a relatively empty alcove, just a few paces away from their target stall.
“You’re Aruna? The one who–” Madeline looked from Halia to Mason and back again. “Who saved him? That night? From the…the monster thing?”
“The youma,” Mason provided, gently. “Yeah, Mads. She…she saved me.”
Lena Roze
Halia was proud of Mason's reaction, glad to see he definitely took it seriously. That being said, she felt awful when she saw the startled expression on Madeline's face. Walking to a more secluded area with them, Halia nodded. “Yes. That would be me. It's….not something we usually tell people about but….I trust Mason, so I trust you.” Her smile was warm and gentle as she spoke quietly to Madeline.
“Not….not here or now, but I can show you, if you would like. And I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have. Which I can only assume you probably do?” She knew if it was her in that position, she absolutely would have a laundry list of questions still unasked.
“Not….not here or now, but I can show you, if you would like. And I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have. Which I can only assume you probably do?” She knew if it was her in that position, she absolutely would have a laundry list of questions still unasked.
Juliette06
Madeline did some very quick math, putting two and two and two together rapidly as she looked between her brother and Halia–Aruna, as she apparently also was.
Well…heck. She reviewed how she’d been treating Halia and felt suitably embarrassed and humbled; she could tell by the look on Mason’s face that he could tell, too, so she just–well, heck.
Surprising herself, Madeline moved and captured Halia in a tight hug, squeezing her tightly.
“Thank you,” Madeline whispered, eyes shut tightly. “Thank you for–for keeping him alive. I don’t know what I’d do if anything had happened to him.” Madeline gave her one final squeeze and stepped back, fixing her with the first genuine smile she’d spared since meeting her.
“I’m sorry I was so awful to you,” she said, squeezing Halia’s hands, which she had clasped in her own. “I didn’t–I thought you were just–you know, a random girl and–Mason and I usually do this ourselves so I was–anyway, I’m sorry, and thank you again.” Madeline gave her one final smile, then released her hands.
“Let me get your lantern for you, okay? I can’t believe you’ve never done this before. It’s beautiful, you’ll see.”
Well…heck. She reviewed how she’d been treating Halia and felt suitably embarrassed and humbled; she could tell by the look on Mason’s face that he could tell, too, so she just–well, heck.
Surprising herself, Madeline moved and captured Halia in a tight hug, squeezing her tightly.
“Thank you,” Madeline whispered, eyes shut tightly. “Thank you for–for keeping him alive. I don’t know what I’d do if anything had happened to him.” Madeline gave her one final squeeze and stepped back, fixing her with the first genuine smile she’d spared since meeting her.
“I’m sorry I was so awful to you,” she said, squeezing Halia’s hands, which she had clasped in her own. “I didn’t–I thought you were just–you know, a random girl and–Mason and I usually do this ourselves so I was–anyway, I’m sorry, and thank you again.” Madeline gave her one final smile, then released her hands.
“Let me get your lantern for you, okay? I can’t believe you’ve never done this before. It’s beautiful, you’ll see.”
Lena Roze
Halia squeaked as she was wrapped in a hug, eyes widening before her features softened and she returned the gesture. “I couldn't just sit back and let someone get eaten by a youma. I'm just….glad I was at the right place at the right time, y'know? It was just….luck, I guess, that we knew each other is all.”
Shaking her head, she smiled a little. “Don't worry about it. Really. I get it. And for what it's worth, I do my best to keep an eye out for him on the magical side of things too. Maybe….maybe later I could….take both of you to Aruna?” The tips of her ears turned pink as she suggested visiting her planet. “Or if you'd like, you could both come over and I could explain more?”
The declaration of intending to buy Halia's lantern made her smile warmly, the same heart melting, thousand watt smile she had given Mason when he greeted her earlier. “Thank you. That's so sweet of you.”
Shaking her head, she smiled a little. “Don't worry about it. Really. I get it. And for what it's worth, I do my best to keep an eye out for him on the magical side of things too. Maybe….maybe later I could….take both of you to Aruna?” The tips of her ears turned pink as she suggested visiting her planet. “Or if you'd like, you could both come over and I could explain more?”
The declaration of intending to buy Halia's lantern made her smile warmly, the same heart melting, thousand watt smile she had given Mason when he greeted her earlier. “Thank you. That's so sweet of you.”
Juliette06
Madeline raised her eyebrows, looking from Halia to Mason. “You didn’t tell me–other people have places like your–” she cut herself off, a slight frown on her face as she turned her attention back to Halia.
“Is your Aruna more, um…populated? Or…how shall I say…” she glanced at Mason, a sheepish smile on her face. “Because his Blarney was just…”
“It was an empty field,” Mason deadpanned, making both himself and his sister laugh after a brief moment of silence. “But I’m going back soon and I’ll figure out how to make it better!” Mason added, voice coming off a little pleading, a little whining, as he looked from one girl to the other. “It’s gonna get good! Or at least…better!”
“Uh huh,” Madeline said with a knowing smile to Halia. She linked one arm through Mason’s and one arm through Halia’s, then led them, half-skipping, toward the lantern booth. “First, lanterns, then planets. That almost rhymes!”
“Is your Aruna more, um…populated? Or…how shall I say…” she glanced at Mason, a sheepish smile on her face. “Because his Blarney was just…”
“It was an empty field,” Mason deadpanned, making both himself and his sister laugh after a brief moment of silence. “But I’m going back soon and I’ll figure out how to make it better!” Mason added, voice coming off a little pleading, a little whining, as he looked from one girl to the other. “It’s gonna get good! Or at least…better!”
“Uh huh,” Madeline said with a knowing smile to Halia. She linked one arm through Mason’s and one arm through Halia’s, then led them, half-skipping, toward the lantern booth. “First, lanterns, then planets. That almost rhymes!”
Lena Roze
“It's….. complicated. Very complicated. It isn't populated but there are structures. Um...” She thought about how to word it carefully in public. “Why don't we go by my apartment after this, and I'll explain before we go?” Her eyes glanced around the crowd of people. “Not to sound paranoid, but you never really know who might hear.”
Juliette06
The twins nodded in unison. “After,” Madeline said. She didn’t care if Halia’s planet (!) was covered in gold and rained glitter, she was not going to miss out on the lantern festival, no matter what.
Mason made his way to the front of the lantern line and got three of them - green for himself, purple for Madeline–those had been their colors since long before all of this magic nonsense began), and pink for Halia.
“Here,” he said to the girls, handing each of them their respective lanterns. “Let’s get away from all the noise and find a good place to set them off.” Mason paused, then turned and grabbed another three, in the same colors.
“We can bring these!” Mason explained, in response to Madeline’s curious look. “To–after! Later!” Mason looked at Halia. “If that’s okay with you.”
The three of them made their way to the center of town, pleasantly surrounded by every other human (and Mauvian, and alien, probably) in the city. They lit their lanterns and watched as they floated them into the sky. Mason’s arms wrapped around both girls’ shoulders, hugging them close in a gentle squeeze. Genuinely, he loved this time of year so much. So much.
“Happy Starfest, you two.”
Mason made his way to the front of the lantern line and got three of them - green for himself, purple for Madeline–those had been their colors since long before all of this magic nonsense began), and pink for Halia.
“Here,” he said to the girls, handing each of them their respective lanterns. “Let’s get away from all the noise and find a good place to set them off.” Mason paused, then turned and grabbed another three, in the same colors.
“We can bring these!” Mason explained, in response to Madeline’s curious look. “To–after! Later!” Mason looked at Halia. “If that’s okay with you.”
The three of them made their way to the center of town, pleasantly surrounded by every other human (and Mauvian, and alien, probably) in the city. They lit their lanterns and watched as they floated them into the sky. Mason’s arms wrapped around both girls’ shoulders, hugging them close in a gentle squeeze. Genuinely, he loved this time of year so much. So much.
“Happy Starfest, you two.”
