eight_or_eleven

The was the sense of laughter as Strength shifted looking under and around her at the nothing to stand on. Not mean or spiteful, but childlike and sweetly amused.

Forming out of almost nothing, but seeming to draw on light from the crown of her forehead and the stars which filled the sky around them Star appeared with a large grin.

"Most of the Tarot don't come into my realm very often."

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"You have made the Star Kingdom your home?" she asks, amused. "It makes sense. The castle can be a trying place when you want peace."

It does. To her anyways. Why shouldn't Star live with the inhabitants of the Star Kingdom?

At that moment Aquila and Cygnus fly in, though given that this was space, to say they flew in was somewhat debatable. Stars glitter in their feathers.

"At least you are not alone," she muses. "As to coming more often? Well, if I didn't have my Duty I would spend more time here than I do. I like it here."

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"The lit sky is a beautiful place for gathering martial for all purposes," Star said, briefly, with an ironic smile tucked into the corner of her lips.

"There is a whisper you are seeking?"

This is said with an expression quite like a very young child asking if someone is getting a new puppy or kitten. It's all blinding hope and awe.

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We are here to see Leo Minor, Shujaa answers for Strength. To see if there are cubs. She does not have them often. Once or twice in a millennium.

Many of those cubs became new stars, guiding countless people throughout the universe.

"A brief excursion," Strength adds. "There is one back in the bar who has sought our aide, but there is time yet for me to do whatever I choose to do."

As opposed to Duty.

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There is sudden bright big smile as she dropped to her knees and started petting Shujaa. Waiting a few seconds to make sure whether she'd let her first.

"I see good things for you," Star whispered to the lion, before looking back up top Strength.

"The boy, Draco, yes. He's still quite in need. I saw to him yesterday."

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Shujaa does not mind if he's petted, and neither does Strength. They trust their little sister after all.

I should hope so, Shujaa rumbles, pleased. I have not had one of my own kind for a companion, and Leo Minor's cubs are truly special.

Strength, however, looks concerned.

"Is it serious?" she asks. If it is their time in the Star Kingdom would have to be brief. Just a quick meeting with Leo Minor before they're on their way back to the Bar.

Doing what you want is one thing but Duty always comes first.

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Star continued to pet the lion gently, as she nodded quickly. Her expression couldn't be called severe because she was so bright, but there was a feel of it to her heads movement.

"It is. How he managed it," There is a shrug, with an amused smile. "He's decided to walk through our doors. He's under Moon's protection, but she has to let him walk the doors the same as we do. I went to show him the light, so he might see he could be all that a person can."

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"That much I know. He sought our aide, and we gave it to him." And as long as Draco continued to want it, they'd provide it.

"How did it go? Your visit?"

Dreamwalking. Entering into the dreams of others at will. She didn't do it nearly as well as others did, but she'd done it before, though never while awake—that was too advanced for her. To lend advice at a time when the seeker was most receptive.

"Has anything else changed with him?"

In other words was she needed now?

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Star looked curious, her head shifted partially sideways and she was looking into the field of stars and far beyond them. The crown of her head began to glow brighter as she spoke.

"Moon healed him today...and he's with Ruin, again" there was a pause. "But this interlude seems to be going positively. Or at least as positively as can go when they tried to take each others lives so shortly ago."

She blinked her silver eyes, letting the shimmer fade from them, as she looked up at Strength. "You will help him."

It wasn't a command. It was soft and thankful, filled with gratitude. It was simply the forward world before her, she could see it.

"But you have time," she added with a a smile. And smiled down at the lion, "Both of you."

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She almost slaps her forehead, mortal-like. How could she have not known? They were all tapped into an undercurrent unknown to the sentients; how could she not know that Draco had tried to challenge Ruin?

He is in the best of hands. There is no need to worry.

Now that she knows, she nods. "I will help him. He may be Moon's charge at the moment but I will help him."

Time. Yes. They had time. All the time the multiverse offers.

"We will make seeing him our first item on our agenda after our visit with Leo Minor."

So it is said. So it will be done. But first....

"How goes things with you? I haven't seen you in a while now."

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There were many reasons to smile at her words, but none of them so complete as the image that came to her mind at the last question.

"I was dancing," there is definite smiling, though it tones down a little. "But lost track of...well, lost track."

Small giggle. Cause really who but the Tarot really could understand how you could misplace all of existence at times?

"But I'm back, on our world. At least for a little while."

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Strength nods. It's easy to get wrapped up in whatever you're doing in the moment you're doing it.

It happens to everyone.

"I'm glad to see you here. And there are those who will be glad to have you passing through their lives."

Star is a great influence to have around. There's just something you can get from Star that you just can't get from anyone else.

"Do you plan to physically visit the Bar? Corporeally?"

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She grinned quietly at the first words but she'd had millenniums to become comfortable with it. The acceptance of their jobs went beyond acceptance and even humility, they just were. It was what they were and did.

But the second question made her quirk her eye brows quizzically, smile on her lips becoming absent while she thought.

"I need to find Sorrow first before I decide that."

And this answer would surprise no one. While she and Sorrow might be diametric card opposites almost, they'd been best friends and near sisters since the moment they'd awoken.

It was one of those things that just happened when you were the youngest people around.

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And they did it well. Not always to the appreciation of the ones they served but they did their job well.

No-one can ask for more than that.

"Ah. Sorrow. The one who began this journey for Draco. Or, gave him that push he needed to get onto the path he needs to take."

She smiles. She'd never really gotten to know Ruin's daughter, but there's always time for that.

"We look forward to seeing you there." "We" meaning any number of things, including the bar's patrons. "There are those who need you yet."

There was one she knew who needed to find hope in his life. To know that there's always something out there to reach out to.

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She didn't point out Sorrow didn't start the journey by far, only enacted the first physical point which could be blamed.

She knew why Sorrow had done it, and even thought she understood why she done it in Moon's stead, but it was a thing. She needed to see Sorrow to be sure. And needed to see Sorrow beyond an reason existing at all.

"There are many," Star commented, softly. It was with a smile if a contemplative one. There were indeed many pricks of focus in this Milliways which would call to her louder when she stepped.

Not if, but when. She wasn't saying it out loud, but she knew.

"We won't be too late to the party."

Just like she knew it would change her.

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Also known as that push forward to get Draco moving, rather than sitting like a seed in the soil waiting to germinate into his full potential.

"No. Never too late to the party."

A laugh.

Milliways would never be the same, and all for the better.

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Her head looked up suddenly and off into the distance, a smile beginning to curl across her lips.

Petting the head once more, she looked over at Strength, and impulsive jumped up, hugging her and giving her a kiss. Her voice was tremulous with excited joy.

"It's time for me to go. You have another appointment now."

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"Aye, so I do," she said, affecting an English accent.

And hugs back. And noogies Star too. >:D

"I will see you again."

She knows she will.

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At long last, after Star had departed, the figure of an enormous lioness came walking into view.

Padding. Upon some invisible tract only those of the Star Kingdom could see.

Welcome to the Star Kingdom, Leo Minor rumbles, her voice bouncing off of the stars. It's been a long time since you last walked this way.

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A smile as the lioness strides into view.

"Greetings oh Great Mother of the Stellar Savannah!" Strength says with the utmost respect. "How goes the hunting?"

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Now that she's closer, it's abundantly clear that Leo Minor—despite her name—is huge. In fact she is the size of a large draught horse.

There is nothing "minor" about Leo Minor.

The hunting goes well, Strength of the Tarot, she rumbles. Her voice is now large and echoing. There is much game to be found in the Eagle Nebula.

She seats herself down upon a small spiral galaxy. Or appears to.

What brings you here today?

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"You are why I come here, Great Mother," Strength says, feeling that sense of awe she always feels when in the stellar lioness' presence.

"I come to tell you that my companion has chosen his name at last, and to see if you have had cubs, and to see how they fare."

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Has he now? Leo Minor is pleased. Strength is quite old, as is her lion. That is good to hear. What is your name, oh bright one?

I am called "Shujaa" now, the smaller lion announces with great pride.

Shujaa. That is a good name.

The lioness then pauses. Strength's motivations are as clear as a super nova upon her face. The card has come looking to give her companion—Shujaa—company of his own.

You wish to obtain one of my cubs, Strength. To serve as companion to the one who serves as your companion.

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Strength nods. There is no lying to the Star People. They have a way about them that can see into anyone's heart.

"Yes. That is why I am here. To see if you would be willing to part with one of your cubs. To see if you agree to giving my companion someone of his own kind to spend time with."

There is a tension. An apprehension in Strength that she does not normally feel.

This is Leo Minor. And she alone decides what becomes of her cubs.

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Leo Minor seems to sigh. It causes several galaxies to heave.

You know what you ask of me Strength. You know I do not normally give away my cubs to just anyone. Not even someone from the tarot.

She pauses.

Not even the gods are so fortunate, and they take precedence over all others.

Leo Minor looks to be in thought. It could take a second or a century for her to decide.

And she can see that Strength does not have a century to wait. Not when Duty has called.

With a rumble she calls forth four snow-white cubs. Each one is bigger than an Earthen lion cub of their approximate age.

Very well Strength of the tarot. I will part with my cubs. But I must ask you this. My cubs are destined to join the other stars once their time of growth is finished. She waits for an affirmation from Strength and gets it. You will raise them, and teach them in the ways of guiding the sentient beings of the multiverse. You and all the others of your kind—awoken and created that are willing to help you with your task. If you have fullfilled this task according to my satisfaction I will allow you to keep a cub.

Do you agree to my terms?

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There is no hesitation in Strength's mind. Leo Minor has placed a duty upon her that, if agreed to, is almost as binding as her service to the sentient beings of the multiverse.

"The terms are agreed to, Great Mother Lioness. All of them."

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Including my decision to take back all of the cubs if I feel that my conditions were not met to my satisfaction?

She gives a lion's grin. She knows that Strength agreed to those terms too.

Very well. They are yours until I believe that I am satisfied with your efforts, as well as the efforts of those willing to help you in your task.

The cubs crawl their way over to Strength and Shujaa, mewling in their [relatively] tiny voices.

I will be watching you, Strength of the tarot. To ensure that my cubs are raised well.

She gets up and begins to drift away.

Until the next time we meet...

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