2023-01-07: Birds of a Feather
- Cast: Lily Jung, Rita Bernal
- Where: Palau Asteroid Base / Dreams
- Date: U.C. 0097 01 07
- Summary: Flock Together
<Pose Tracker> Lily Jung has posed.
The sun crests along the edges of Palau. Like warm hands, tracing along the edges of the great stone in space. Almost like they are embracing it. This place is the home to many people from various tracks of life. The Sleeves, hidden amongst them, alongside the people who simply seek to keep on living.
Each of these people have their own hopes. Their own warmths. But recently, a new spark has been added within Palau. And as the sun traces across its surface, one point seems to particularly flare up across a different plane. Something beyond sight.
With her arms on the edges of a window, a young woman with blonde hair has laid her head down as she'd been staring out at the stars. Watching the dangerous beauty of space. And as her eyes close, a part of her seems to lift up. Amidst dreams, and amidst reality, a Flamingo opens its wings and rises through that window and into space.
Beyond, it's a dance. Its wings carrying Lily through the stars, as memories start to mix and play into eachother. Passing the PLANTs, her home in the skies. Passing through the hourglass, and into the sands of humanity that lays at their edges. Time passing for them, as she watches like an observer, as children play in the streets playing soccer, while being watched by men wearing rags, standing in line for rations...
Passing through the hourglass, that memory passes earth itself. A great offshaped meteor in the skies. Axis, drifting towards earth. Near this view, the 'flamingo' lands upon a piece of 'land' amongst the stars. Pale sands like those of a beach, as she watches the vision play out before her eyes once more.
As that green light spreads out around that massive stone, taking hold of it in the same way that the sun is taking hold of Palau on the other side of 'consciousness'. Beams of that green cast into space, striking out towards the place from which the flamingo views it all. The pink bird preening its wings, as that very same light passes through its feathers...
Feathers that slowly become hands once more, as Lily reaches out upon that beach towards that light, capturing a part of it, and bringing it to her heart. As part of her mind wonders... will she find the light that moved so many people?
<Pose Tracker> Rita Bernal has posed.
Perhaps, if the young woman had kept her eyes open just a moment longer, she would've been greeted with a mystical sight. A golden bird, far in the distance, darting through the starry skies. She settles just out of view, nesting in an asteroid. It won't save her from detection for long, but she has no fear of the nets of the Sleeves. They have their own legend to chase, for now.
Following the path of the sunlight, the golden bird lets her consciousness expand, searching through the souls of Palau. Many call out to her, but one shines particularly brilliantly tonight. As a flamingo ascends, a little golden canary breaks away from her greater self and follows. Twin tailfeathers stretch luxoriously behind her, trailing glittering light.
She stays back at first, letting the flamingo dance, but never lets the other bird out of her sight. This is far too interesting! Through the hourglass, Axis descends, startling the canary. But this isn't her story, and it isn't her time to intervene. She simply watches the story play out. From this angle... It's far more hopeful than being locked in a cell within a laboratory, listening to other subjects and their captors panic.
The canary knew the place of her death, and it brought her peace. Hope turns the sky to shimmering light. A hero's story comes to a close, so that more may begin. As it has to be.
As the radiance reaches its peak, the canary flies toward the flamingo, finally allowing herself to be seen. As she lands, light shimmers brightly, revealing the body of a beautiful woman, perhaps in her mid 20's. Blonde hair reaches to her waist in cloud-like waves, a white sundress covers down to her thighs. Eyes of otherwordly green seem almost luminescent in the darkness.
Bare feet walk along the beach, making their way to Lily. The woman waves, smiling gently. She stays just far enough away not to intrude on her space.
Hi, Lily! My name is Rita. May I join you?
Rita waits for permission, and if granted it, she moves in to sit next to Lily. Her footsteps don't leave any sign of their passing in the sand, but she seems to remember to disturb the sand beneath her when she settles.
<Pose Tracker> Lily Jung has posed.
Lily's hands remain at her chest for a moment, gazing at the stars. At Axis slowly being moved by a force beyond human understanding. Until finally, she begins to sit.
Mullen sand shifts beneath her bare feet. The girl wearing nothing more than some simple gym shorts and a loose white shirt - reminiscent of those children playing soccer just earlier. She's smiling at the sight itself. Indeed, many stories begin at that moment... and end.
After all, it's that very same man within the Nu Gundam, who now threatens humanity as part of Triple-Zero.
When Rita begins her approach, the young woman raises a hand instinctively. Offering a finger for the bird to land upon. But as that sweet canary turns into a beautiful woman, taller than herself, that hand turns from that half-open fist with a finger extended, to a welcoming hand.
There is warmth in this place. Rita, hidden amongst the asteroids, may feel the warmth of the sun. But there's another warmth here that rivals it. A sense of Hope, and Luck, right before her. Lily's eyes closed to slits, while her expression turns into this big rediculous smile. "Hee, of course!" She doesn't seem to even question the presence of Rita Bernal at all. Welcoming the young woman to sit with her at her side.
"Nice to meet you, Rita!" She already knows her name, so no need to introduce herself. But she's excited about Rita being here, immediately treating her like a friend she's known for years. The fact that this woman is not leaving signs of her passing in the sand at first doesn't register with Lily. Birds don't leave marks in the sand.
That big silly smile of hers lightens up just a bit, as her attention draws back to the world before them. That sight of Axis remaining ahead of them. Almost like time has been allowed to slow down for the time being. "Isn't it amazing?" She asks Rita. "A moment where time stood still, and humanity came together under a mutual understanding..." The woman asks hopefully.
That smile doesn't at all leave her face when she turns back to Rita and asks; "Isn't it such a shame that this had so much impact, but it didn't last?" Though it's a question that speaks to disappointment, it is clear that instead, Lily is taking this to still be hopeful. Like... humanity just needs another shot at that one!
<Pose Tracker> Rita Bernal has posed.
Rita's smile turns all the sweeter as Lily welcomes her, hand outstretched. The warmth this young girl gives off is comforting, and Rita finds herself thankful she chose to pursue the starry flamingo.
Unlike most of the people she visits... Lily hasn't appeared in many of her visions. Besides knowing her name, Rita finds herself at a loss. Maybe the Newtype Goddess act wouldn't be the right tactic here.
It seems Lily can speak normally in this half-formed world, so Rita adjusts, doing the same. "It's nice to meet you too! I was just passing by, and I saw your flamingo. I've always loved birds so much. It's great to meet someone else who feels the same way!"
Rita's voice is sweet and breathy, every word spoken with a smile. As Lily speaks again, green eyes turn out to the sky before them, watching Axis' illumination.
"It is. This is the best view I've ever had of it. Where were you watching from, when it happened? If you don't mind me asking!" Rita lowers her gaze to the sand with a nod, then. "Yes. You see, not everyone saw rainbows that day. Not like you and me. Some could only see the losses they suffered, or the sacrifice of their heroes."
Still smiling, there's something sad in Rita's eyes. She turns to Lily, lit by the glow of Axis. "There will come a day when nobody forgets miracles like this. Someday, every single one of us will be able to create them! And then, we won't need them anymore. Nobody will be hurt, or sad. We'll all understand each other perfectly."
A soft little laugh. "Won't that be wonderful? Do you believe in a future like that, Lily?"
<Pose Tracker> Lily Jung has posed.
"Ummu!" Lily nods her head heavily as Rita mentions loving birds. "Birds are amazing." She spreads her arms outwards, careful not to hit Rita as she does so. So close to touching her, yet so far away. Spreading those arms like wings, making playful 'whoosh' noises as the girl steers her body a bit left and right. "They get to fly. So free!"
She then brings her arms back in. "I used to feel like I was running in place. But since the last year, even though I'm in the military now, I have never felt so free. Flying through space." As she mentions it, an old Zack flies by in front of the beach, as if to illustrate this as her thought slips towards it. Though there's something... dark about that machine. Something Rita would pick up on. A curse trying to hook its fingers in... yet finding itself repelled by the light within its cockpit.
"Hmm... where was I again?" She wonders for a moment. And the moment she does, the beach suddenly disappears. The entire view of the dream pulls. And while Rita remains on the beach, the other 'half' of the beach transforms. The shape of a shuttle forming around Lily's side of the beach.
There, before their eyes, on the half of Lily's beach, they see a tiny blonde girl pawing her hands at the window. Through the windows, Axis and Earth look so much closer. Across from her, a chubby father with a worried look in her eyes. Only to hear his girl say; "Look daddy! Look at that light!" Her words somehow seeming to relieve the older gentleman.
"Yeah... that's right, I was heading on a business trip with daddy." Lily chimes sweetly, as that vision of little Lily and her dad disappear, and soon, the shuttle itself disappears as well.
She then looks to Rita, and tries to grab both of her hands into her own. Her eyes shining with this energetic light. Big puffy smile. "I do!" She declares. "You believe it too? A future of miracles?" So happy. "That would be amazing..." Though... her smile does falter a bit. Just a little.
"I do! A future like that would be wonderful. But I think, people just understanding eachother isn't enough. Even when people communicate perfectly, there are still desires. Peoples hearts can still close off to the feelings of others."
Then, that light comes again. "But, I still believe in humanity. In a humanity that can work together better! Even if they are all different. Even if they all want different things. It just... it will take a lot of miracles." Before looking back to Axis, keeping her hands around Rita's.
"I want to create such a miracle for my people, Rita."
<Pose Tracker> Rita Bernal has posed.
Rita laughs in delight at Lily's enthusiastic agreement. "Yes! When I was like you, I always dreamed of becoming a bird in my next life. And it came true!"
With an outstretched hand, Rita summons glimmering miracle light, identical to that surrounding Axis. It swirls in her palm, until finally taking the shape of the golden canary Lily saw earlier. With a twitch of her fingers, Rita guides the little bird to perch on Lily's shoulder.
"Her name is Phenex." Rita says, with a conspiratorial smile. "We fly together all through the cosmos. Just like you, I've never been so free! When I was like you, I was trapped, forced to do and become things I didn't want. But now, no one can stop us."
As if in agreement, the little bird lets out a resonant chirp.
"Maybe someday, we can fly together!" Rita smiles so widely her green eyes squish closed. "I'd really like that."
Despite Rita's gentle excitement, when her eyes open again, they're sharp. A being so in-tune with the spirits of those around her picks up on the darkness within the echo of the machine that flies by. The little bird atop Lily's shoulder ruffles its feathers, a quiet agreement of Rita's assesment.
Before she can comment on it, Lily's half of the beach vanishes. Rita watches carefully -- though he smile never fades. "Oh, you were so close..! Your father must've been so worried. But I can see that your bravery made him feel so much better. You're amazing, Lily!"
Lily rushes to Rita's side, and Rita makes /sure/ she has physical-enough hands that Lily can grab onto. It takes a little focus, but it's not too hard in the realm of dreams. Squeezing tight, Rita looks into Lily's eyes, searching for any hint of a lie, or an unserious disposition.
She finds only truth. Innocent, hopeful belief in the future. Rita's heart lifts in her chest, allowing some of Lily's own hope to echo within herself.
"Yes! I've believed it since I was very small. My parents told me! We'll all be Newtypes, someday. And we'll all ascend into our souls' true forms. Even if things won't be perfect, they'll still be so much better than they are now."
It's the teachings of Zeon zum Deikun, taken to their logical extreme. Perhaps Rita's parents were simply fervent belivers, or perhaps the words of absent parents grew ever larger in the heart of a frightened little girl. In either case, it's clear: Rita believes this with all her heart.
Rita watches Lily's light dim and brighten, like clouds passing before the sun. "I believe in them too. We just have to protect them long enough so they can reach that point. Little by little, they're growing."
Green eyes truly do seem to glow, now, flecks of rainbow irridescence floating away from them with every blink.
"I can help you create a miracle, Lily. If you're willing to help me in return. You see... A very bad, scary time is coming. And I'm going to need people to fly with me, and fight with me, to make sure it won't come to pass. I'm very strong, but my strength alone won't be enough. I've seen it."
Rita's hands are loose around Lily's now. What she's offering is a choice.
"I'll show you. Keep one of your hands in mine, and think about creating something. Anything you like. Hold it tight in your heart, and then lift your hand and let it come to be."
Is it safe to offer a taste of this power to such a young girl, flying a cursed mobile suit? Ultimately... Rita has one goal in mind. Whatever allows her to move forward on that path is acceptable.
<Pose Tracker> Lily Jung has posed.
When that sweet golden canary appears, and it's guided onto her shoulder, Lily lets out the sweetest little happy squee. "Hello Phenex! I'm Lily Jung!" She introduces herself excitedly, before leaning her head towards it and touching cheeks for a moment. Her attention is then drawn back to Rita.
The girl is picking up on what Rita is saying immediately. She may be sweet and energetic, but there's something beyond that. An eagerness to learn. No... an eagerness to /listen/. And it is through listening that she reaches an understanding of what Rita is.
"Hmm!" She acknowledges with Rita. "I would really like that too!" She explains, before she notices those sharp eyes. And in return... her heart opens up to Rita. Letting her in so easily. Like an open armed welcome, allowing her in. Bearing her heart of hope and luck. A lucky rabbit, a flamingo in flight, a sweet human, a sunny sky. There are no clouds to hide anything. "I would love to fly with you. And if your wings get tired, I'll help lift you up." Lily offers to Rita.
Her hands release Rita for a little bit, looking to the vague 'reflection' of that shuttle. Of her father as his expression softens up. "Daddy does so much for me." She whispers. "He's the best father I could hope for."
She then looks back to Rita. Someone who doesn't have that bond. Not with that kind of family. Not someone who can look out for her. Is that perhaps why she offered to lift her up when her wings get tired?
"New... Type." Lily whispers that word. It is a word she only truly came to understand recently. But ever since learning it, it's as if she's been awakened to the truth of the world. Never forcing her gift, but seeking to gain an understanding.
"That would be good... to protect them. But we'll stumble a lot." She still considers herself part of humanity. Unlike Rita, she cannot protect them Beyond Time yet. So when Rita offers to help create a miracle, this light of hope burns brighter. This sudden engulfing flame that flares around them. Golden-pink, like a rose-quarts, hopeful and sweet. Playing along the golden feathers of Phenex on her shoulder. Bursting from her heart.
She's earnest to a fault.
"I will help." No delay. Not a single moment of hesitation. As Rita bears her heart, so does Lily. Tying a bond with frightening speed. "But... I don't know if I am strong enough yet." She then adds, as Rita's hands loosen up. Similar to Rita, she knows she doesn't have the strength alone to do what needs to be done in this era.
But without hesitation, she touches her hand into Rita's own. Closing her eyes. "Like this?" She asks, as she asks to create something together. Anything she likes. Touching that hand... and then... slowly lifting.
Hesitation. Uncertainty.
What lies between there hands at first, is Axis itself. A great devastating power. Light that turns red, dangerous, scary. Pain. Frightening power, as the shape between their hands turns into that of the Unicorn, roaring at Shamblo. Lily's expression turns sad as she shakes her head. "Not like that..." She whispers. She looks beyond that. Into that red light, flecks of colors. Red turns to green, then to pink...
She cannot come up with a miracle of her own. She knows she seeks a miracle, but she doesn't have the vision to imagine it yet. So instead... the miracle takes another shape. A thread binding herself and Rita. Then spreading out across the stars amidst their hands.
Soft pink threads, like the red threads of fate. Bringing them together to one place. A single point, where they fly like a family.
Like a flock of birds, perfectly coordinated. She isn't at the center of it. She doesn't know what the miracle is that she seeks. But she does know one thing...
The miracle must be seen together.
<Pose Tracker> Rita Bernal has posed.
The Phenex nuzzles into Lily's cheek. It's a gesture unlike a normal bird, but normal birds aren't made of metallic glowing gold. Really, miracle birds can do whatever they like.
"Oh, Lily!" Rita says, overwhelmed by the young girl's sweetness. "You're wonderful. I'll help lift you up, too, if you ever get tired. We'll be a flock!"
Longing echoes from Rita. She wishes she could open her heart so easily. But there's so much she has to hide, to let her plans succeed, and so much that would horrify Lily. But maybe Rita can offer just a little...
Small children laugh, in a wide expanse of beautifully cared-for plantlife. Manicured, one might say. Brilliant flowers draw the attention of various groups of children. Three friends: a blonde, a redhead, and a small child with purple hair coo and exclaim over the plants. Everything is idyllic. A snapshot of a vibrant, wonderful childhood.
"These are my friends." Rita explains, quietly. "Jona, and Michele. They're very, very brave. After we lost our parents, they were my family. But the fight coming, the scary one... They need help, from all the heroes of the living. From people like you, Lily. Your heart is true and beautiful, and I know you'd be able to help me save them."
It's more information than nearly anyone has gotten, so far. But what can Rita do but trust in this girl, made of sugar-spun sweetness? This risk... it's one she has to believe in.
Rita nods gently as Lily repeats the word "Newtype". She gives Lily space to feel it out, quietly watching. Green eyes open wide at the presents of rose-hued fire, but she doesn't pull her hand back. Instead, awe comes to her eyes.
"You have amazing potential, Lily. Please, be very, very careful who you show it to." This is spoken as a deadly-serious warning, before Rita brightens. She laughs softly, letting her hand play through the beautiful flame. The Phenex shakes her feathers out, as though bathing in the warmth.
"Thank you." Rita breathes, another eyes-squished smile following. "Thank you so much. If you don't feel strong enough, I'll help you. I'll hold your hand."
Lily closes her eyes, and Rita squeezes her hand softly. "Yes. Have faith in the things you believe in, and let that fill your whole soul with strength." Axis appears, and Rita calmly observes it. It isn't a surprise -- this was Lily's first experience with a miracle.
The Unicorn. The Shamblo.
A ripple crosses their shared dreamscape as Rita's surprise overtakes her. "Sister," she breathes, reaching out for the illusion, but not quite making contact.
"Oh..!" Rita says, softly, as Lily's miracle truly takes shape. Little threads entwine themselves to Rita's spirit, a few somehow moving to attach to her and winding about the Phenex instead. The little bird seems started at first, flapping her wings, but Rita nods to her softly. This is okay.
If she wished, Rita could look ahead. Perhaps find the miracle Lily searches for amidst the shifting pools of possibility, in the heart of Time itself. But... She smiles to herself, watching the birds fly. Watching the threads braid together, and become strong. No. For this to truly be Lily's miracle, it needs to remain a mystery until the exact moment its needed.
"I'll be there." Rita whispers. With a slight incline of her head, a vow is made, and half the strings turn to spun gold. A promise. A meeting of Lily's outstretched hand. "Whenever you need me the most, I'll be there. You can call to me like this, using your soul to search for mine. I'll hear you."
<Pose Tracker> Lily Jung has posed.
Lily's bold eyes greet Rita's offer to lift her up, to be a flock, with welcome openness and open arms.
"I'd like that." She chimes, closing her eyes for a moment, before opening them again. That heat and warmth beaming bright. Only to warm up further as Rita gives her that little bit of view into her own life in the past. Seeing them. Her friends, watching them care for the plantlife.
"They seem like lovely people." Lily chimes, smiling as she introduces them. They are her family, and they need help. "I'll seek them out." She then offers to her, looking back to Rita. There's recognition there. When Rita mentions that they lost their parents, and became her family. In that moment, behind her, Rita Bernal can see them.
The shadows that stand behind Lily.
A crowd of people, touching eachothers' shoulders. Old men, old women, all reaching out to Lily. Not so much supporting her but... peoples whose burdens she's chosen to carry. People whose stories she knows intimately now. Intricately tied to veterans of the previous wars, giving her the gift of a purpose. People without families. People who have lost. People who have formed new families amongst friends.
They fade away.
"I'll be careful." Lily chimes to Rita with a big smile, "But I can only show who I am to people. I'm not good at hiding who I am." She titters with amusement. Her expression is ever warm, squishing her eyes shut for a moment, then opening them again as her attention falls upon the miracles between their hands.
Sister. She files away.
But then, there's the threads. Not a cage. Not a net, or a leash. But ties. Binding together, like a family. Letting everyone's strength become eachothers'.
"I'll be there." Lily speaks at the exact same time as Rita. Then laughs heartily when she realizes she just repeated Rita's words and quickly adds; "Jinx!" With a playful pointing of her other hand.
She meets her hand. And that golden string is met with rose-quarts light. Intertwining, as Lily shifts her hand. Instaed of taking it properly, looping her pinky-finger around Rita's. "It's a promise." She tells her. "If you need me... just reach out. My heart is open to you, Phenex -- Rita." One and the same. She looks into her heart.
<Pose Tracker> Rita Bernal has posed.
Lily's immediate offer to find and help Michele and Jona brings a glimmer of stardust to Rita's eyes. It overflows, falling down her cheeks in a river of glimmering light -- not quite tears, but a purposeful representation of gratitude and emotion.
"Thank you, Lily. Please be careful, they both have ties to the Federation. I don't think they'd try and capture you, but the people around them might. It means everything to me that you care enough to find them."
Rita thinks for a moment, then leans in, as though telling a secret. "When you meet Michele and Jona, tell them I've finally become a bird. Then they'll know you're telling the truth!"
While she's leaning close to Lily, Rita can see the shadows behind the young girl. She stays calm, as she had at the appearance of the cursed mobile suit -- she doesn't want to frighten Lily. But this crowd... Will Rita join them, now? Will she become a burden Lily feels obligated to carry?
As they fade, Rita refocuses on Lily herself. There isn't time for regret or second-guessing herself.
Lily's sweet, bright nature brings peace to Rita's heart, and she smiles in return. "Just make sure you have good people around you, then. Your heart is a precious gift! It deserves protectors." With a little laugh of her own, Rita says: "Just think of yourself as a princess! You need plenty of dashing knights!"
Another bright laugh echoes through their isolated beach as Lily jinxes her. /This/ is a game Rita knows! Thankfully, Lily quickly says her name, freeing Rita's voice once again.
Joining her pinkie with Lily's, Rita smiles serenely. "I will. We're a flock now, after all! You, and me, and the Phenex, and your flamingo." A little giggle. "For now, it's time for me to go. If I stay close too much longer, I'll frighten people."
With one last squeeze of Lily's hand, Rita lets go. She leans forward and hugs the young girl tightly. Warm like a sunbeam, her arms are solid enough for this. When she pulls back, the Phenex comes with her, hopping up Rita's arm and then flying away from both girls.
Landing on the ground, the little bird begins to glow more brightly. Her form collapses into light and appears anew, a humanoid shape rapidly increasing in size. Lily will recognize her shape, now, as she grows to her proper size: a Unicorn. This one of golden armor and wing like shields at her back, curiously bearing no weapons.
Rita stands and walks to the Phenex, who lowers a hand to the blonde woman. "Goodbye, Lily. I'll see you again soon! Remember to find your knights!"
Once Rita is safely aboard the Phenex's arm, the Gundam lifts her into the air. Rita waves cheerfully, until vanishing once she reaches waist-height on the enormous machine. Brilliant azure fire ignites around the Phenex, lifting her into the air without a hint of engines or thrusters. With one last glance down at Lily, the Phenex soars into the night sky, up and out of Lily's dream.