Before We Knew What Love Was

Yesterday my hubby challenged me to draw something that showed him I wanted to draw

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(For those having trouble reading, please visit my tumblr version. The layout there is a little easier on the eyes.)

For a room filled with people who supposed to be the heroes of their worlds, the tapestries he could see were rather boring. All had that glow of magic to them, but their stories weren’t what he’d been expecting at all. Some were stories of internalized corruption, some of passive waiting. Even some who had vibrant coloring were laid out in patterns that held no thrills, just of lives spent listening to orders. Alex knew he’d never be able to see his own tapestry, but he was going to make sure that his would be bold. THe masquerade party was supposed to allow everyone to hide who they were from the other guests, but Alex knew them, for even if he’d never met them before their lives were laid bare to him in their tapestries. Most times seeing such was a gift. Today it was almost a curse. The only upside he’d seen so far is that he knew who to avoid.

“You haven’t learned to turn it off yet have you. You’re looking at things you shouldn’t be, aren’t you?”

Alex bowed to his eldest brother. “I”m sorry, Xavier. I know the ball is supposed to let them all relax, but how am I supposed to mingle with those who would accept our hospitalities but have so clearly turned away from us when we have asked for aid?” It hurt worse knowing that some of those who had denied help would have given it if not for an order from the counsel.  

“Not all of them denied aid. Maybe the infinite wisdom of your young brain just made you miss a few.” Xavier put an arm around Alex and hugged him tight.

“I’m fifteen, Xavier. I’m not a child anymore.”

“Yes, and I’m twenty-six, but even I know we don’t have all the answers.” He let go of Alex. “Go mingle. I think the last of our guests have finally arrived. Try to shut off that vision of yours for a while and see if you can recognize someone without it.”

Alex sighed and closed his eyes. When he opened them nothing had changed. Grumbling to himself he tried to ignore them as he finally made his way to the crowd. He didn’t was one of the youngest in attendance, and he didn’t need tapestries to see that. Most of the kingdoms would only be sending a few representatives, so they wanted to send those with experience. Even at the carnival this is what he’d seen. There had only been one kingdom from the council that had sent someone who had little experience, then again he had a feeling she wasn’t there as a representative. She felt more like a tourist. Thinking of her made him smile. He’d even changed his outfit plan because of her. Originally he’d been planning to wear his own colors, but the greens and browns of her senshi form had inspired him.

Her tapestry had been so different from what he’d expected. Most tapestries had set patterns, their threads all lined up and perfect. Hers was not. In some places the threads were tangled, as if she’d been trying to decide just when or how to do things. The colors were all vibrant, but the way they tangled and mixed was sometimes muddied. He wanted to watch it come together, to watch it all fall in place. Hers was going to be glorious, and he wanted to witness it.

“Oh I”m so sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going! Forgive me.”

Alex turned to see who had bumped into him, only to find the the bluest eye he’d ever seen. He knew that eye, though the black haired girl before him didn’t match what he remembered. “No worries, I probably stopped suddenly too. Doesn’t help that it can get pretty crowded in here.” He didn’t have to look at her tapestry to know that her threads would be tangled. The dress she wore made him smile. If he was right she’d been inspired by him too, though it seemed she was much more subtle than he was. Or he was just more arrogant and she wasn’t wearing his colors. “But at least I’m joined by such a beauty as you.” He wanted nothing more than to brush the hair from her face so he could see both her eyes. Not only did she wear a mask, but she still felt the need to hide her face behind all that hair.

She blushed and giggled at his comment, her hair falling even further over the right side of her face. “I’m sure there are others here much more beautiful than I.” She barely could look at him.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” He so badly wanted to tell her who he was, but the whole point of the party was to try to make it hard to tell who was who. Curse his brothers for coming up with a theme like that. “Would you care to dance? I know a part of the floor that always tends to have more room than the rest.”

“I should warn you, I’m not the most elegant of dancers.”

He smirked. “Perhaps I can show you a time you won’t forget.” It was the same line he’d used when asking her if she wanted company at the carnival. “Let us weave our way through the floor, my Princess.” And adding a little pun based on his powers might not hurt. After all, she’d fought beside him at that carnival.

She giggled, and took his hand, barely thinking about his words, just the warmth of his hand. It was this warmth she recognized. He’d tried to hide her from the fight at the carnival, and he’d held her hand as he’d tried to pull her away from it. When she looked at his face she could see the same warm gray she’d gotten lost in then. She’d found him completely by accident, yet here he was once again. They’d only met a couple days ago, but she was really hoping that if he could find her among all these people it meant she’d made a friend outside of her home.

Just as promised the spot Alex led them too had more room than the rest of the dance floor. It also had a great view of the windows. “Now, shall we dance?” He had the biggest smile on his face.

“Only if you can forgive me about the Bear the other day.”

He rolled his eyes. “I told you then that I understood. Besides, throwing a teddy bear at a monster just to distract it so I could get away was pretty cool. Too bad for you I was the one who was supposed to be fighting it. And also transforming the way you did was pretty cool too.” So she did recognize him too. That was good.  “THough, to be fair, we’re not really supposed to know who anyone is.”

“As if you don’t know who everyone in the room is.” She laughed even harder as he spun her. She’d never felt so light on her feet before. It was so much fun to dance with him. She really wanted to be able to dance with him after the ball too. She wanted him to be her friend even after they figure out what’s going on and help his planet. Most of all, she hoped he felt the same. 

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Characters:
Alexander "Alex" Rigel/Dusk Bandit
Josephine "Josie" Vertu/Sailor Wing

Pose ref:
by guest staring