╰ ★ LITTLE GAIA

PRIVATE HEROES OC

[lumiiinar]

catchthatregenerator​

Now he was being accused of worrying.

That had been years, and not how he had gone about it. He had learned before to simply accept the unpleasant truths about the worst things. He had been taught he could change it. He had lived that way, and he had been one of the corrupting influences….

By showing people they could change it.

By the mere knowledge, people broke. He didn’t make their choices, either. He didn’t once. But somehow he has confronted with knowing that difference. He was also wondering which part was his own fear, again.

Then he slowly looked down, to hide a smile.

“You won’t let me go then,” he said. “Well, on those terms, I’ll be sticking.”

He paused, and he touched her cheek.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, actually.”

“Good choice.”

Marilyn wrapped her arms around with a grin, even lifted him up a bit, before stepping back again. There was an expectant look on her face and she poked him on the shoulder.

“Are you inspired yet? Or do you want to try jumping out my plane? That’s exciting. I haven’t tried it, but you’d probably get a kick out of it.”

[lumiiinar]

catchthatregenerator​

“I don’t care what you call it as long as it ruins lives.”

He paused, and he decided….honesty. He was always honest with her. In his worst moments, he was –manipulative. It wasn’t entirely the conman of the old feudal era either. He simply became that way. Lying to be among them, all. He could say it was an instinctive part of the ability, in a way.

A good armor.

But Marilyn deserved better. He’d never lie in that way, besides–not the way Nakamura had lied.

“I don’t have the luxury for denial,” he offered. “Besides there was that time you got me arrested, I believe. You’d do a better job of that now.”

Then again:

“I’ve never done this before. I’ve left people behind who were meant to die. I’ve stayed until they died. I left your brothers a long time ago when it was clear…”

He looked ahead.

“When it was clear my presence would be of harm. Few before your mother ever knew what I was. I plan on staying, M&M–and I don’t want your long life to be influenced by my own.” He scoffed. “However long I stayed, I had an effect.”

Marilyn crossed her arms and stood right in front of him, an eyebrow arched high and questioningly. 

There was a difference between her and her brothers and anyone else her father had left behind. She had no doubt he believed it was the right choice then and maybe it even was. 

Marilyn placed her hands on his shoulders and met his gaze, locked him in place with it.

“You are my father. You have already influenced my life and so did Mom, but I’m not being robbed of my choices here. I’d just like my father to stick around without him being worried about his effect on my life, ‘cause I’ll tell you now--- the alternative has an effect to.”

She let him go and stepped back.

“And you’re right. I would do a better job. You’d never get free. I’m badass like that.”

[lumiiinar]

catchthatregenerator​

“You mean, a V-blog?”

He paused, in the cooling area, and he agreed. She was not a child anymore. He’d give her a better life than he–(believed)–he had remembered, and the Company had not interfered. He had learned enough to see what happened in such a situation. Never meant to go on that long. Never meant to be permanent.

“Let me be serious for a moment. Once you start, you’ll find yourself always involved in some way. For me, my hand always ends up on the trigger.”

Not by asking, as they believed. It always fell to him. It would always fall to the other one like him too. Not by asking. Immortality did not feel like a long slog as mortals believed. Mortals believed they had all the time in the world, without consequence. He believed every moment had to be gained.

“Of course, there’s the big acts, but many forget the smaller pieces. You get involved, you can’t help yourself. So I’d suggest doing it all for yourself. Your own satisfaction.”

Like he had begun before that fateful meeting.

“I’m pretty sure it’s just called a vlog, Dad.”

Marilyn was also pretty sure that he already knew that. Just like he knew everything else. Quietly and premeditated until that moment to strike. She was also of aware of how much that allowed for her life to be the way it was.

“I’ve got time to be selfish. I don’t mind being involved for now. Before I become disenchanted with my old age. Besides, my science project was totally for my own satisfaction.”

It wasn’t entirely a joke, but she wasn’t ready to be completely serious yet.

“You’re not in denial, right? You know I’m going to be around for a while and I plan on staying with you.”

[lumiiinar]

catchthatregenerator​

“Not complacent. More for a select audience. I am a family man now.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Well, you’re drinking the microscopic organisms,” he said. “You’re not that broken up.”

He remembered the first manifestation of her power. He had worked with her, worked with her resilience. Still, she was much more–connected to the way of things that he would have liked. He had his beginnings of a concern.

“What would you suggest to keep me in the grand game?”

“I’m extremely broken up! But I think you should broaden your audience. I’m not a child anymore. You can be less selective. I encourage it.”

Marilyn wrapped an arm around his shoulders and walked with him. There were several ways this could go, but she was still rather fond of the entire thing.

“I’ll be your partner in crime. You’ve helped me out enough with my science projects.”

[lumiiinar]

catchthatregenerator​

He put a hand to his chest.

“Now those are fighting words,” he said. “Have to say, disenchantment doesn’t suit you. I didn’t hit that phase until…”

He considered.

“Until I couldn’t get properly drunk. What’s your excuse?”

She was the creative one, he could never forget. The one child he hadn’t run from, watched from a distance–

“You’re in a mood.”

“I’m not disenchanted. I’m simply making sure you stay on your toes. Don’t let another century make you complacent on your definition of impressive.”

Marilyn smiled, and barely held back a laugh.

“I can’t get drunk without crying about microscopic organisms.”

[lumiiinar]

catchthatregenerator​:

@lumiiinar​

“You aren’t as impressed as you should be. Did you get desensitized?”

To his glory, that was.

“Or you’ve lost your touch. It’s okay, old man. You can’t always be impressive. Retirement is nothing to be ashamed of.”

[lumiiinar]

true-augurey

Delphi leaned her head back, a certain cold wash over her. So, there it was. When had Marilyn died? How did she die? It wasn’t as if there hadn’t been brushes with death. She herself had had moments, but never….

She looked down for a moment, away, because she knew if she had been there, it wouldn’t have happened. She opened her mouth to say she had studied death, she knew what happened to the mind, but she couldn’t know the extent of what Marilyn had experienced. 

“Damn it.”

It was not an eloquent. She met her sister’s eyes, and answered, honestly.

“.If you want to know the truth–right now–you’re just like your father.” 

“My father was always honest about who he was. I could be exactly like him. I could choose to embrace that power, to play god and wipe the life on this planet. Start anew. Rise from the ashes-- I know-- I know the words to say to ‘justify’ such an act, but---” Not truly.

It wasn’t what she wanted and she wasn’t sure it was what her father had wanted in the end either. She could always ask him herself.

Marilyn’s eyes found Delphi’s, easily, and perhaps there was plea there, a silent scream for her to understand.

“I can feel it more now. More than before-- than ever. I feel it. Over and over again. Every pulse is mine and-- I don’t want them to die, but I know that they can’t live. Not here. It’s time to move on. It’s time, Delphi.”

We’re running out of it.

[lumiiinar]

true-augurey

Just like that, their roles had reversed. Marilyn had always wanted to be heroic, and in her own way, had served as a sort of ….map for Delphi. A map for the right course. Now, however, she saw the rifts. 

She had been away for a long time, getting lost in her own world of dark magic. Now Marilyn was speaking in that bigger picture, and Delphi had wondered before–if her power would affect her. With life, comes death .She knew that. She turned away, a twist to her lips. 

“Besides that…last bit,” she said, carefully. “You forget that more can be lost than just lives. What of magic? What of the abilities of your own kind? All of that would be wiped away.”

Her gaze was steady. 

“What has happened to you?” 

“Am I different?”

She wanted the honesty, but it was always easier to take from her sister than it would be from either of her parents. Although, it had been a long time...long enough that home was no longer the same.

Marilyn shook her head, and for a moment her gaze fell, teeth running over her lip.

“I’m being optimistic. We’re not bound to this world, but this world is bound by us...all of us and when... I died I felt it. I was everywhere and everything and I know that if we don’t start making another path, then we’ll truly be wiped away.”

[lumiiinar]

true-augurey

Delphi’s eyes widened slightly. 

Her breathing, uneven, but only just. She had her fears, yes, and the unknown at times wanted to be one of them. But she was ruthless with the unknown, ready to play for extremes. She already wondered if Marilyn knew what she was saying. 

“So soon,” she said, an attempt for humor. “You finally sorted out the fact that you’ll be around for some time.”

A bitter irony that only made the case that the universe could bend around her. What were the odds?

“Why? What do you feel?” she asked. “I promise you, if you tell me why, I can fix it. I won’t have us held hostage to fate.”

She had known young–very young–that they were so much more. It was the reason why they could talk like this, speak like this, as if they were deciding their own great scheme. 

“I’ve sorted a few things out, actually.”

No doubt Delphi was listening now. She tried for a smile, though, as if she could somehow lighten the weight of what she was about to say.

“It’s not our fate. It’s theirs. I’m sure you can fix it if you wished, but that would just save them all from the consequences and I’ve seen that happen enough times...my own family has been part of saving this world as much as it has been the reason it needs saving, but...not this time.”

Was she being cruel? Horrible? The question was in her eyes, but she didn’t voice it. She continued.

“I won’t stop this world from retaking itself. You won’t either. Nature has to take its course. Humanity will survive. They have the time. They have the tools. Bright minds, and people with gifts beyond imagination...”

[lumiiinar]

true-augurey

Not what she meant but Marilyn’s words got past her. Reached her. There was a difference in living in the Wizarding World where most ideas did not reach Delphi in the least. She knew her own self well enough that it was a sign of self-defense. She always needed to evaluate before she let anything poison her. 

Considering certain circumstances and what was underneath all that magic. 

“I missed you.”

It was said in a raw tone of voice that didn’t feel like an admission. She hadn’t been around because she had never been like her foster parents. And she wanted Marilyn to be her only family, and be close to only her. It scared her, so she kept away. 

Of course, best left unsaid. 

“You fly now. Right? In the Muggle way, of course.”

“The muggle way, yeah.” Marilyn laughed, a hesitant relief pushing away the tension in her bones. That restless churning energy inside of her reached the tips of her fingers. There always something so complete about Delphi’s presence, as if it brought a balance to her own.

“I knew you were never too far away to notice.”

There was an urge to hold her, keep her from disappearing again. Marilyn was not a mind reader, but she had known what fear had kept her sister away for so long, but they were here now and there was no chance she’d lose her again.

“Delphi,” she said, eyes searching, because somehow Delphi always knew things. They fell across her lap, stumbling from a different path. “I think we’ll have to fly away from this world someday. I feel it.”

[lumiiinar]

true-augurey

It was disarming to an extent, Marilyn’s gesture. There was the question of how much she wanted anyone to know her. 

“At least someone appreciates how hard it is to decide between blue or green.”

The rest of the color was without choice. It reflected her thoughts, somehow. And she really wanted to know–

“You’re better than a mirror,” she said. “Can’t trust mirrors, can you?”

Especially magical mirrors but this wasn’t what she was talking about. Sometimes she could stare into one all day and not see herself at all. 

“No, you can’t. They won’t show you what matters.”

Her eyes didn’t leave her. Though the gaze on her was natural, not unnerving despite their sight. Those tendrils of life that made up her sister were always twisting inwardly and endlessly. She was beautiful.

“You’re still you.”

Her hand fell, but the smile remained. She poked her lightly on the shoulder.

“Missed you.”

[luthordamnvers]

You can’t control, what you don’t understand.

[lumiiinar]

true-augurey:

@lumiiinar

“I get the feeling you don’t like my new look.”

“You always look the same to me, Delphi.”

True in a sense. Marilyn reached out and touched her hair, taking a strand between her fingers and smiling, because it was still very her.

“I dig it.”

[lumiiinar]

@minuteoftime / x

Well, you didn’t have to be a mind reader to get the gist of what he meant. She was too old to be offended and her words had only been slightly laced in lies. She hadn’t cared how long she lived. She’d simply accepted the next day and the next as they came.

Marilyn had cared about everything around her-- all those lights, blaring and full of life. She had done a lot in her time, but there came moments where she had to remember herself. She had to step away.

“I can feel the judgement radiating off of you.”

She was mostly amused by it. It was mostly her choice to stick around here, claiming space, boots on tables and unnecessary commentary. She had always had plenty of that, ask any--- oh, right.

She had lived long enough that she wouldn’t lie to herself about the reasons why she stayed. Oh, she knew.

 A curious look settled onto the back of his head.

“What would you have me do?”

[lumiiinar]

minuteoftime

“They have,” he said, shortly. And then she started to talk and talk, and he realized–she had been keeping this to herself this entire time. Was it easy to blame one person? Incredibly. His gaze was just shifting to her now, taking her in with a stone expression but his eyes were quite alive. 

“Sidious and you,” he said, and he wanted to laugh. “One of the most powerful Siths saw something…in you.”

It was a bitter thought, increasingly so. He had had visions of that one before, Sidious, and he held a hatred towards that thing he couldn’t kill for some time. He admired the strategy, of course, but that was it. That was all. He only mourned the lack of knowledge and here she was, right in front of him.

“What were you looking for?” he asked, forcing his voice to remain steady. 

“A presence older than me. A voice in the Dark. You weren’t the first one to hear it. How do you suppose the remnants of the Empire ended up in your Master’s hands?”

She waved a hand in front of her. He already knew that part of the story.

“Don’t worry I disappointed him too. He got back at me though and stole something of mine.” Oh, yeah she had not forgotten about that. Now that did make her properly angry.

“Misplaced it.”

Marilyn breathed in. She did the voice. The emperor’s voice.

“Love something and kill it.”

Marilyn rolled her eyes.

[lumiiinar]

minuteoftime

He knew he was drenched in sweat, and he felt ill. It seemed now he was simply sick, caught something a long time ago. He was always fevered, and in short, her healing had done nothing. 

She couldn’t heal him. It was a grand irony. 

“I should kill you now. Save the galaxy,” he matched her. In a way, he’d become obsessive about her. He already knew it. What stories did she have in her head? Why keep them away from him? 

She knew all about him after all. 

“I’m sure someone has thought the same of you.”

Oh, she did know quite a lot. Skywalkers were a bright thread in the universe, tangled with all the rest, but she could always follow each and every one. She was sure the same would be said about “You can’t place the fate of the galaxy in one person. You can’t blame one person either. It’s easy to though. You’ll hear those words---your words again.”

She let him go, pulling her hand back to her and looking at it with some interest. It was almost as if it had come away stained red and a colder than the rest of her.

“Besides, you don’t want to kill me. You still think I’ll tell you something. I could. I might. It’s just difficult to know where to start.”

They could stray away from his story. It hadn’t ended and there was a thread he was meant to follow on his own.

“Darth Sidious and I once had an interesting...alliance. Short lived. We were looking for something.”

[lumiiinar]

minuteoftime

It was painful.

His tolerance, however, was higher than most. He put his hand on the wall and couldn’t do a thing to stop her. She wouldn’t realize how angry that would make him, how it was already boiling over–

“Do you ever worry about what you’ll become?” he asked. She’d say she already had reached that point. But he doubted it. There was more to go. There was no end to that hole. “So bitter and only a few stars old.”

She held that lifeline in her fist, the pain was searing as it was healing, she knew, but he was still standing and that was impressive all on its own. The cells burned, reigniting and knitting tissue together.

“Yeah, well what’s your excuse.”

Bitter. It was slightly true. Her fingers stretched outward in her annoyance. Her essence searched the damage burnt away some of the rot. One could never rid of it all. The scars were earned as were the bruises and that inch closer to death, but quite with in reach.

“I’m as worried as you are.”