Luma Party!

[ladyoftheshootingstars]

Need a distraction from current events? How about the stars that seem to have come down to earth to play and frolic? Wait, those aren't stars... are they? They have eyes, make cute squeaking sounds, and float about. They also seem to love candy.

And among them, standing on a hill with a telescope, was a tall blonde woman in a long flowing blue dress. She seemed fairly nonplussed and calm. A table near her had a teapot and teacups, and a plate of strange crystalline candies.

What will you do?

Comments

[trustycrowbar]

"Hmpf." Gordon grunts as he hefts the astrophysics books and papers he'd grabbed from the library. Well, technically he'd BORROWED them, but it's not like the due date meant anything what with the moon having an earlier return date than anything he could check out at this point. Mostly it was just to keep the librarian happy.

One thing he learned as a grad student: ALWAYS keep the librarian happy.

Muttering a few equations of motion under his breath and realizing a couple might fit together in a way that was useful to him, he reaches for a pen from his pocket. It isn't there. He glances around. "Where's my--"

Then there's a helpful squeak, and he turns around and spies a helpful star that had been floating behind him with the pen he'd dropped.

"... ... ...Thanks." He plucks the pen out of his hands, and the baby star seems to alert his perception to the frolic and tea that had been going on just in the distance while he was too in his head to notice.

"What...?"

[ladyoftheshootingstars]

The squeaking sound of the Lumas alerted Rosalina's attention to the new arrival, and she turned to see who was there. The Luma that helped Gordon gave an excited squeak and both bounded and floated towards Rosalina, leaping into her arms. She caught it, giving it a hug and smiling warmly.

"Hello," she greeted. "I see you've already met my children," she commented.

[trustycrowbar]

"--Hello." He begins awkwardly, straightening up and taking in the sparkly celestial gamboling on the lawn.

"Your... Children?" He asks, nearing her with books in tow and thoughtfully staring at the chubby star things nearest him. He isn't sure what to make of this. What are they, glittery tadpoles? Why do they squeak? Where did they all come from?

[ladyoftheshootingstars]

"These are Lumas," Rosalina introduced them, gesturing to the star creatures bouncing about at play. "They're young stars, who haven't yet decided what they wish to become when they grow. And so they stay with me. I feed them, care for them, and see them off when it's their time to take their place in the universe. So you could say, I'm their mother."

This was followed up by a small chorus of giggling Lumas calling out "Mama!" and laughing happily. This caused Rosalina to smile warmly.

"What brings you here?" she asked Gordon.

[trustycrowbar]

"Oh you know. Just. Gathering research material on how the universe works."

This scene is serving as a monkey wrench in the works, judging by the nonplussed stare he's giving the whole thing.

"I, uh, was under the impression that stars were a little bigger than this... Even the young ones."

[ladyoftheshootingstars]

"They are," Rosalina told him. "Though that is because the Lumas are not yet stars. They have not decided whether they wish to become stars, planets, comets, or even galaxies... That is why we travel, to find their place in the cosmos."

She laughed slightly. "You seem confused," she commented.

[trustycrowbar]

"That's because I am." He replies. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm a scientist. This goes against... pretty much everything I know about astrophysics. To me, stars are helium-powered fusion engines. Comets are pieces of ice and gas, I--"

He stops in his babbling as another luma floats by.

"I'm sure you get what I mean."

[ladyoftheshootingstars]

"I understand," she replied with a small nod. "I used to think the same thing. But the universe is so much more vast than we can imagine, isn't it?"

"Besides, it's possible our universes are very different."

[trustycrowbar]

"Oh, I'm aware of that possibility. More than a possibility in fact; Having different physical laws is what actually creates the separation between dimensions. It probably says more about me than anything; People throw fireballs around here and I don't even blink an eye anymore, and yet somehow baby stars still seem weird. Nh, no offense to any of them, of course."

Something catches his attention, however:

"You used to think all of that too...? Were you a scientist back in your world?"

[ladyoftheshootingstars]

"They don't mind," Rosalina chuckled, petting one of the squeaking Lumas at her side.

At his inquiry though, she shook her head. "No, never a scientist," she said. There was a lingering sadness in her voice, as she gave a cryptic answer. "Just someone who once believed her answers were out among the stars..."

[trustycrowbar]

He watches her for a moment, trying to figure her out. He isn't successful. Then a luma lands on his book pile and scoots itself around until it's comfortable. Gordon gets the idea, and sets the books down on the tea table.

"At least you're not alone there. A lot of people tried to find answers out there."

[ladyoftheshootingstars]

"I suppose so," she said. "Many cultures in many worlds look up to the stars with wonder. Some even believe in wishing upon shooting stars... I discovered so much there. But most important of all, I discovered a family."