Astra's Journal

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Short vignettes and journals by Astra.

## post-S5E13 - Urban Exploration

1st of September, 2020 - Their Mothers' Home Upon Their Sun
Astra had just gotten out of a bath and was sitting in front of a simple vanity in their room. Their mom, Cilianna, was standing behind them, running her hands through their wet hair, drying it with a gentle heat the goddess was flowing through her fingers.
“So how is the place you’re visiting, dear? Hail-sion City you said?”
“It’s pronounced Halcyon City, Mommy, and yeah it’s pretty cool. There’s places that got this really good cold tea with these chewy pearls, it’s called boba and it’s so good! I actually got a free one yesterday from this shop called Philosotea, they gave them out to Big Team members, so that was cool. But then I got sent over to do this weird job for these people in a skyscraper.”
“Skyscraper?”
“Yeah, that’s what they call big tall towers of metal, glass, and concrete.”
“Oh, interesting.”
“Yeah, I think rich people use them.”
From nearby, Astra’s other mom, Yuisa, piped up, “Rich people? Oh, great. Guess you can’t escape them even when visiting other worlds.” She was sitting on a small sofa, admiring her wife and child from across the small room.
“So what was weird about the job?”
“Well,” Astra began as Cilianna had finished drying their hair and started brushing it, “they had this person, her name was Bridget, come to us and show us up to the top, instead of greeting us at their threshold. Kinda like those kings you keep complaining about, Mommy, who keeps sitting in their throne even when they invite you.”
Cilianna agreed, “Yes, horrible manners of a host, in my opinion.”
Yuisa nodded, “I couldn’t agree more.”
“And then when they met us, one of them was overly friendly,” Astra continued, “and I don’t think any of my teammates trusted him. Apparently he wanted us to get rid of some gang of people who were threatening other people near where they lived.”
“Oh, that sounds reasonable,” mused Cilianna,
“Yeah, but they only did it because they wanted to get something out of it.”
“Of course they did,” sneered Yuisa, “if a rich man wants to do you a favor, it’s only to add to his hoard down the line. Remember that, Astra-darling.”
“Of course, Mama,” Astra giggled, “they are just so different over there, it becomes difficult to tell when they are actually different or just the same. But it seems we got something out of helping them too, because the area they wanted to clear had a large root from a large magical tree poking out of it, whose sap can be dangerous in the wrong hands according to Grayson. And he wanted to make sure neither the gang nor the rich could get to it.”
“Ah, is that the tree you were asking me about yesterday? Tsk tsk, what fools, you shouldn’t mess around with magical trees like that, it never ends well,” Cilianna said, “I’ve seen it countless times, they treat nature without any respect and are suddenly surprised when it turns against them.”
“What can you expect,” Yuisa continued, “they hardly treat people with respect either. In fact, Astra, if they treat you like nothing more but a means to a horrible end again, don’t hesitate to turn against them too.”
“Like one of those tricks Calamus does?”
“Exactly. Of course, do it with your values in mind, because Calamus likes to do it just for the sake of betrayal. Comes with their domain I suppose.”
Astra chuckled, they remember all the stories their moms have told them about Calamus’ various misadventures, and how Calamus always insists that things happened much better for them.
“Of course, Mama.”
“Now, Astra, what do you think we should do?” Cilianna said, poofing up Astra’s hair with her fingers, “longer, shorter, new color?”
“I think I’ll try going long again. Gotta look good for school, ya know,” Astra smiled.
The radiant smile of the young demi-god was apparently contagious, because both Yuisa and Cilianna broadened their smiles in response.
“That’s right,” Yuisa proclaimed, “they’ll all love you, I’m sure of it.”
“Oh, you’re going to learn so much about their world, it sounds so exciting,” mused Cilianna as she brushed Astra’s hair longer.
“Totally, I’m so excited to learn about electricity and their sun, and how their world is able to be round, and all those references the others make. It’s going to be so cool!”
“I’m so happy for you, Astra-darling.” Yuisa said, “you know, you almost make me wish I had tried school. It sounds fun.”
“Well maybe,” grinned Cilianna, “or maybe the school you would have had would have been just as dull as the education I got. Let me tell you, Astra, your grandmother did not know how to make lessons interesting, no matter how cool the actual subjects were.”
“Whaaat, but she always tells such good stories!”
“Yes, from lots of practice with your cousins,” Cilianna laughed, “I was her first student after all. Besides, you’re not expected to take tests to prove you have properly ingested all the information she gave you. Also, the stories you hear have much less mathematics.”
“Oh right,” said Yuisa, “I remember those math scrolls she showed me. Now I know at least a bit, that you can’t take away from me, but those scrolls were something else. I thought there’d be at least some numbers. You’re right, I can’t envy you for that one, babe.”
“I like her math lessons though?” questioned Astra, “they’re not that bad.”
“Again, lots of practice with your cousins, honey. Now, how do you feel about it so far?” Cilianna asked as she showed off the new length of Astra’s hair, that was now falling to a little bit down past the shoulders.
Astra checked out their hair in the vanity-mirror. “Ooh, looks nice. I love it.”
“That’s good. Let’s try putting it up then.”
“Mhm. I hope they like it.”
“Who, your new classmates?”
Astra looked wide-eyed, as they realised what they had just said. “Oh, yeah, them, of course, they were the ones I meant.”
“Was it?” Yuisa asked with sudden increased interest and a smile on her face. “Astra-darling, you’re blushing. Are you sure you’re not talking about someone specific?”
Astra went silent for a minute, before eventually admitting that “ok Mama, you’re right. There, umm, there is someone who I might have a little crush on...” Astra said barely audible.
“What was that?”
“There is someone I have a crush on!” Astra admitted. “And I don’t know what to do, cuz they’re just, I don’t know, ya know?”
“Hey, that’s wonderful,” smiled Yuisa.
“Aww, that’s lovely to hear,” cooed Cilianna. “Do you want to tell us more about them?”
“Umm, yeah,” said Astra, now furiously blushing brightly. “They’re this teammate on the team, they were also kinda new I think, and we like went to this weird mirror-based dimension together with some others, and rescued an alien diplomat. We’ve talked a bit, and they’re really nice, and cool, and kinda quirky, and super interesting.”
“That’s so good, Astra-darling. Now come on, what’s their name?” asked Yuisa from the edge of her seat on the sofa.
“Um, they call themself A-Vis or Audio-Visual. But I think that’s just their hero name, cuz they kinda haven’t revealed who they are outside of being a hero. Not that that’s unusual, but ya know. Gosh, I haven’t even seen most of their face.”
“Sounds mysterious~” chuckled Cilianna.
“Yeah, they kinda are,” mused Astra, “I think they might not even be from Earth either. I don’t know why, just got a vibe.”
“Even more mysterious~. Well, honey, I hope things are going to go well with them. I’m sure they won’t be able to resist you. And speaking of...” Cilianna said, showing off how she tied off some of Astra’s hair in two cute little hair buns while the rest flowed down past their shoulders. “... what do you think? I even dyed your ends blonde for a little extra flair.
“I love it! It looks so good! Right Mama?”
“Definitely.” said Yuisa coming up next to her wife. “Now what do we say?”
Astra grinned and leapt up from the chair to hug their moms, “Thanks Mommy! And thanks Mama!” They then began to run out of the door, “I’m gonna ride around on Nebulim before dinner, ok? See ya!”