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 Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:53 am
Takes place after: Ad Astra
If she resurfaced. It was all up in the air, honestly.
She leaned against a sturdy tree trunk and thought about her choices. The moment she powered up she would have to leave, which. Fine. Easy. But. Damn she hated it. There wasn’t any freedom anymore. No fun. No just running around hitting people with her rapier.
With a heavy, all encompassing sigh, she allowed herself to power up, Stirling overtaking Brooklyn, and…oh. There was a Page literally almost right next to her.
That…wasn’t great. She was a magnet for danger and the Page could get really hurt if she just left and the youma came ******** was only a split second decision for her to make her way towards the Page. She would have a tagalong on her Wonder visit today and that…oh.
“Lyon?” The surprise in her voice was overwhelming, but…oh.
“Hi. I’m going to my Wonder…wanna come? If you were just a random Page I wouldn’t have asked but…since you’re you and you know what’s coming…what do you say?”
She held out a hand and shrugged.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:53 am
Given how easy it was for Lyon to run into Stirling within the first thirty minutes of being powered up, he figured he was very lucky to not also be ambushed by Cahir.
He blinked at her for all of a second before saying, “Yes, I want to go.”
Luck ran out eventually, and this was his sign from the universe to take a different path.
She’d powered up separately from him. He wasn’t worried about her having seen who he was–there literally wasn’t a chance. He’d been so careful. He had to be. He wanted to make it out of this whole thing alive.
Unsurprisingly, Stirling’s hand was cold. He hoped Lysithea was warmer. It would have been summer on Ganymede, but he’d take anything that got them out of the city. Lyon would be there tomorrow night, anyway.
Without shame or caution, he laced fingers with her and held her hand tightly. It wasn’t as intimate as cradling her unconscious body in his arms while he waited for her starseed to settle back into her chest. Not as traumatizing, either.
“I haven’t been to Lysithea yet. What are you heading to your Wonder for?” he asked, standing close to her.
Really, it didn’t matter why. She’d offered, he’d accepted. He could wait until they got up there to get his answer.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:53 am
“Cool.” Stirling didn’t say more than that before she closed her eyes, silently thinking the words that would take the two of them up to Stirling, and when they were there. When they were safe, she released Lyon’s hand. “First off, I do need to clarify, I meant that since it was you I asked, if it had been a stranger I would honestly have kidnapped the poor thing up here. I’m not a monster. I absolutely couldn’t leave a Page alone with the youma who would have come sniffing after me. And uh. You know.”
She shrugged and vaguely waved her hand. They were on one of the terraces of the castle, where she had planted a small garden. It was growing nicely, the flowers swaying lightly in the breeze and.
“Oh hell yes. Green beans. You want some? When I was living up here, I loved when the green beans were ready. Best snacks ever.” Reaching out, Stirling began snapping some of the beans off the thin stalks. “Help yourself, and I was just…coming up here to think, I guess. Figure some things out, what were you doing out alone? You know we’re being hunted, right?”
Taking a bite of the bean she raised her brows at Lyon, clearly teasing but, honestly, never sure if that was clear or not. Not with this group. Most of this group. Some of this group?
…Oh ******** it, everyone, really.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:54 am
There were a few seconds where Lyon was amused at her would-be kidnapping plan, but it wasn't until she got so excited about green beans that he actually laughed.
He had never met a girl who was excited about beans. Or anyone, really, but he spent more time with guys so he was used to a certain type of absurdity.
It was hard to be impressed by vegetables when in the presence of a castle, and he’d already leaned back to try and take it all in.
“No, I think I missed that part,” he answered, but like her he also snapped some beans from the stalk.
“I was actually planning to head up to my wonder,” he admitted. “Being a page sucks. I’ve got a ring and a little shovel,” he said, gesturing towards the trowel that was hooked to his waist. “I want some cool summon, or some other magic, or something.”
He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and forced a shrug. “What were you trying to figure out?”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:54 am
Stirling clucked her tongue, shaking her head in mock disapproval. “I figured as much. Boys never notice anything. It’s why I have absolutely no interest in your species what so ever. Anyway, you’re not wrong. It does suck. I started all of this with a hair stick and a lot of over eager…ness and a thirst to prove myself. Go for the eyes. It’s what I always did with the hairstick. The eyes are tender and poking them works almost every time.”
Biting one of her green beans she thought for a few moments, trying to get the right words together. “You get magic when you get stronger, but. Not sure when or why that happens. I figure the universe is just like ‘Hey! Good job! You didn’t die! Here’s some more s**t to protect yourself with!’ Even if that s**t is like, a dagger that has no sharp edges and is less eye pokable than my hair stick because it’s too fat…but…you get magic.”
The bean was put into her mouth and she held her hands out to her side, waving them for a moment to emphasize the point.
“As for the summons or whatever, I have no idea how to do that either so. You’re not alone in that bit.”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:54 am
Stirling bit a green bean. Lyon held her gaze while he did the same. He watched her, almost amused, with the same lazy look and smug grin that he always seemed to have plastered on his face.
Boys never notice anything, huh.
“So you’re a lesbian?”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:54 am
“Ideally. Yeah.” Stirling tilted her head and couldn’t help a slow grin that desperately wanted to cross her face. “Not that I’ve ever had the chance to. You know. Have a girlfriend or anything but. Everyone I’ve ever liked has been girls so. I would assume so. One day I’ll find someone who wants to test the theory with me but. Alas. Just another disappointment to add to my many.”
She broke off another green bean. “You?”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:54 am
Lyon finished the first green bean. “Me? Oh, no. I’m not a lesbian. But thank you for asking.”
He combed his fingers through his hair and popped a shoulder, because he knew he was very pretty. And not a girl, either, but Stirling knew that, or she’d have been in love with him already.
“I’ve kissed girls before. It’s nice. Especially if your chapstick needs a touch up. Personally, doesn’t do it for me. I like a little manhandling. If you know what I mean. What are you, like–soft girl romance? What’s your trope? Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, grumpy-sunshine? You’re not a love triangle girl I bet. What, slow burn?”
He took another green bean but just squeezed it while he watched her.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:54 am
Stirling snorted. “Oh good, thanks for clearing that up, I was so curious. Also, please clarify, you like a little manhandling, do you mean you enjoy doing the manhandling, or you enjoy having yourself be manhandled because, I’m not sure which one you’re really talking about. And as for my type? My trope? I don’t know. Never had the chance to like. Find out, I guess. But. Someone who you know. Trusts my decisions and doesn’t make me feel like everything I do, say, or think is wrong and stupid would be. Fantastic.”
She shrugged. “You know. Big dreams for this ******** city but. Maybe I’ll get lucky one day.”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:55 am
Lyon looked at her for a second when she asked about manhandling. The corner of his lip twitched into a smirk. He put the green bean in his mouth and snapped it there before chewing.
Of course, her love life was more interesting than talking about who went where in his own imagination.
“You go to an all-girl’s school, right?” he guessed, and when he thought he saw her nod, he said, “Must be hard. Don’t worry, college is where it’s at. Tell me your type, maybe I can find someone for you. I’ve got a ton of connections. Sounds like you need a hype-girl. Someone who looks at you and sees the moon. Lysithea’s a moon, right?”
He glanced around again. “I’m not big on the space stuff. What’s your zodiac? No wait, let me guess. You’re bold, feisty. I want to say a fire sign. But,” he leaned back and looked her up and down. “You’re using that as a cover for insecurity. You’re more vulnerable than you like people to know. And a romantic.” Hopeless romantic, maybe. “I’m getting a ‘duality’ kinda vibe. Strong and soft. Bold but shy. Clever, but you doubt yourself.”
He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “Are you a gemini?”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:55 am
“Yeah, it’s a moon same as Ganymede, both Jupiter moons, which is kind of cool I suppose. Kind of funny that our group is just a huge mess of moon knights, just different flavors. I’m not going to lie, and I hope that it’s okay for me to say that, but you Ganymede knights are kind of like...the candy that looks good but is actually super spicy and you regret life? Like the Satan's Toe lollipop. Actual Moon knights are like. Cotton Candy. I won’t elaborate on that, but Cynthus is…more like pop rocks so…she’s an outlier, one hundred percent. Anyway, uh. Yeah I think I’m a Gemini? Born at the end of March. I don’t really….do the whole astrology thing…never had any sort of interest in it or any like. Person to gush about it at me. And now when they try, not try but when the Crystal girls talk about it it’s just…it sounds so stupid so…yeah.”
She shrugged then and took another green bean before clearing her throat. “Anyway. Want to explore the castle a bit?”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:55 am
Our group brought a fresh, amused smile to his face. He hadn’t been here for as long as the rest of them, but he liked being included all the same. Of course he was smug after she declared herself a Gemini, so he stayed in a good mood.
He tried to follow her comparisons. Cynthus, pop rocks. Made sense. Cotton Candy for Amarynthos and Ephesus? Well, they were always giving each other sugar.
Satan’s Toe for Ganymede? Reims could be spicy. Lyon could be spicy. But Yvoire? Who hurt her.
“You have no interest in astrology, at all? You should let me read your palm sometime. I’m good at it,” he said, but if she listened closely enough she might have picked up a hint of facetiousness.
Not one to turn down a castle, Lyon took a step towards it before waiting for her to take the lead.
“I can’t help but notice that the Lysithea Knights didn’t get a flavor,” he hummed.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:55 am
“I’m not sure...palm reading and astrology are the same things? I mean I could be wrong but, you’re really outing yourself as like. A fake psychic. Next thing you’ll want is to do a tarot reading…which, okay, would be cool. I won’t lie. Have you seen some of those cards that people do for different fandoms? Wicked cool. Anyway…the castle!”
She made her way to the door leading inside from the terrace and held it open for Lyon, thinking over what she wanted to say next. “Okay, so. The flavors are really only for this group and I don’t…know the other Lysithea people in this group like…really at all? So, I guess…mystery flavored dum dums and airheads?” Stirling paused. “Oh my god. Not because of the type of candy, just the mystery aspect. ********. Are there less offensive candies that do mystery flavors?”
“s**t. And then Dering. I know Dering. But the other three? I don’t know. Dering is like. One of those really good caramels? That last forever and just…coat your teeth…this sounds so ******** up too. I don’t know. Lysithea is too hard. Like, eh. Gumdrops. That works sort of.”
Now that she had put her foot in it more than once, she gestured around. “Anyway this is my castle. Cool cool. If there’s any rooms you want to see just let me know, some are like….worse for wear and those doors have some kind of markings on them and some I just…haven't gone into yet. Despite living here for like. Months.”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:55 am
Lyon snorted when she accused him of being a fake psychic, because he was pretty sure they were all fake. He was definitely full of s**t.
And she! She! Dum-dums and airheads!
He snickered despite her clarification.
Of the group, Dering was the one he knew the most, too. He hadn’t interacted much with the twins, and the number of girls his age in any of his circles was slim. Rose was sweet, though. Even if he hadn’t figured out who she was yet.
“You lived here?” he asked, lacing his fingers behind his back as he began to snoop. “That’s cool. Did you run away from home or something?”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:56 am
“Ha! You’re funny…kind of though. So like, Things were going great for a while, and then I got my starseed taken and was in the hospital for a bit and my foster family was like oh god she’s not worth s**t, not like they ever thought I was worth s**t to begin with? But I was over at St. Mags and was doing…really good? I was kind of happy? Earning some money, had some friends, mentors whatever, whatever. And when they got it back. I didn’t have anywhere to go to, and like. Got sent to a group home in Washington DC? Which. Sucked.”
She shuddered slightly and led Lyon to a staircase that was partially hidden behind a tattered tapestry, which once must have been lovely but now? Was absolutely not.
“I hate group homes to begin with? Like, was in one back in New York before I ran off, blah blah, sob story sob story. Anyway I ran from the one in DC, started living on my Wonder pretty much full time…kept trying to reach out to people but my dumbass had their names wrong. Effie and Mary are not the names you want to write on letters you’re sending with your ring, just a protip there.”
She took a second to catch her breath when they were on the landing and pushed open another door, leading to a gallery. “But then Soleiyu got me out of the system, gave me a swanky new last name–because. I was ********. Brooklyn Bridges. I mean. Ha. ******** Ha. Found a baby under the Brooklyn Bridge let’s just name her that. Bullshit. But whatever. It’s done, over, and yes. I lived here for a while.”
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