Light up the Night - [BACKDATED to 2/5]

[mamaterasu]

Who: Ammy + Anyone interested
What: Fireworks show for the Lunar New Year!
When: Evening of 2/5/19
Where: Monkey Compound
Warnings: None so far, tag as needed!



[It's about noon when a message is posted to the Message Rock, as well as over the Stones of Farspeech - an elegant writing in kanji with a translation below. The voice is foreign, not often heard and possibly lost from most peoples' memories, but it sounds...excited? There's definitely a chime-like laughter hidden in the depths of it.]

All interested in a beautiful sight, please show up at dusk at the Hana--eh...the Monkey Compound. Drinks - for the elders among you - and some snacks will be provided, but I encourage you all to pack a box lunch.

Those unable to attend...I'll try to make sure you see it. Thank you.

[How very enigmatic indeed.

Still, those that do show up as the sky begins to change into a purple-blue color, dotted with small, glittering stars, will see that the Monkey Compound has been done up a bit. There's a line of small, flowering cherry blossom trees creating a lovely arch by the entrance, and little paper tags have been hung from a few of the branches, holding pictures of a tiny boar, or piglet, and a prayer written on the opposite side in kanji.

Inside has a very, very pleasant air to it. Much different than what this place used to be. It's laid with fresh, clean, springy grass and flowers, and a bountiful garden off to one side, which looks a little barren...probably because most of the foods have been harvested and laid out neatly on a bushels of palm fronds. Fresh vegetables and fruits from Ammy's garden, ripe for the taking and eating, if you're more the rustic type. There's also fire-roasted fish, skewered on a stick and cooking nicely by a crackling bonfire. Eat, enjoy, converse with neighbors and friends alike! Drinks have indeed been provided for the adults, a large barrel of sake with a ladle to pour it into one of twelve dishes. And yes, a bowl of water has been added to the side to rinse them off.

The centerpiece is a very basic shrine put up with a folding wall, once white in color but painted over with a beautiful portrait of a boar rolling a round firework, and a tiny, ceramic figure on a boar topping a little rock pile. Below the statue is an offering of sake, a single sakura mochi, a grilled fish, and some flowers. That is where the wolf will be when you first spot her.

For...a moment, at least. Because once the sky grows truly dark, and the embers from the bonfire has crept to soft, orange glow, a whistle will wheeze its way through the sky as a streak of light soars up, and up...before it explodes in a puff of white sparks. Nothing exciting, more a call to attention.

A minute passes, then another, and the're movement by the far end of the compound as the wolf readies everything she needs. A few final touches--...there! All ready for the show to begin.

And what a show it is.

The fireworks are beautiful and vibrant, coloring the skies in a vast array of rainbow hues, dancing like they're actually alive. True artistry, and a blessing from the God of Explosions, Bakugami (and the local rabbit god, who provided a number to help make this work). An explosive force meant to open the gate for a blissful new year - full of color, full of life, and bountiful in all things that bring happiness and joy to those with good in their hearts.

Happy Lunar New Year. ♥]

Comments

alexei | ota

[ideismo]

[Alexei really, really isn't one for things like this - he's never been partial to pretty sights and admiring the scenery, and the idea that someone is going to be trying to put on a show so damn big the entire archepelago is going to notice it is a little...alarming? That's a little alarming.

In the end, it's the alarming bit that gets him to go. Apparently everyone is being promised some kind of spectacle, and he can't say he's entirely unfamiliar with or opposed to the concept of spectacle, and as such here he is.

And really, he's no sooner gotten there than he's immediately questioning how good an idea this is - not because he wants to leave but rather because he doesn't, given the fact that the sense of familiarity here is striking him in the damn chest so hard that it takes him a moment.

...He's another one in the general camp of having no why there are boars everywhere, but the fact of the matter is that he does recognize the boars. Sort of. These boars are still a little demented-looking to him but he can at least tell what they're supposed to be, which is better than he can say for most of the wildlife around here. And the trees forming the archway are clearly luluria, which he's never seen blossoming anywhere outside of Halure, and he kind of has to wonder if whomever put them here knows how fucking sacred they are and god, this is such a culmination of things he wouldn't have cared about back in Terca Lumireis? He had no reason to care about it then, and logically he has no reason to care about it now, but seeing as we apparently can't all just tell our feelings what they're supposed to do he's just going to content himself with wandering around the area and clearly not knowing what the hell to do with his face at all this.

He'll remain at the outskirts once the fireworks start properly happening, however; somewhere he can still see without just being among everyone and their...whatever it is they're doing. He's been doing well enough holding up the metaphorical walls until now and he doesn't see any reason to do otherwise, and honestly the fireworks are another thing that are weirdly familiar in an uncanny sort of way. They remind him of Heracles, of the detonation circles that it's capable of; after a moment he's got one of his hands out in front of him as he watches, just idly, the motion in his hand and fingers indicating programming or manipulating something invisible in the air. There isn't anything there, naturally, but old habits die hard; he may not have been a proper mage, but damn if he wouldn't want to sort out how these particular formulas work.

He is appreciative of everything going on tonight; honestly, this is probably the best thing he's experienced since he's been here.]

[jagarico]

[Yusuke is a natural at enjoying pretty sights. One might argue that it's his job to do so, being an artist. Enjoying fireworks, however, is one he always thought should be seen from afar. Distance can make anything look more beautiful, in his own opinion. Especially because people tend to make too much noise. Yes, he can understand why some might stand a ways away.

With his fingers up in the sky, framing the scene with his fingers. His assumption, when he sees Alexei with his fingers in the air, is that he thinks he may have found another artist.]

Isn't this beautiful? I've always loved fireworks, despite how much I dislike loud noises. But the splashes of color against the night sky...! Is there anything better?

[ideismo]

It's lovely, yes. But unfortunately not something I'm familiar with - at least not like this.

[He doesn't sound opposed to any of it, though.]

Is this a common practice, where you're from? Creating things like this?

[jagarico]

Oh yes. Where I come from, there are firework festivals. They're always amazing. It's very disappointing to hear this is not a sight you get to see often.

[It's really sad to him actually.]

Though you have something similar, you implied?

[ideismo]

From what I hear, there's a city across the sea that throws lavish parties, with large displays like this every night. Unfortunately, they're across a political line that I'm not permitted to cross uninvited; as we enjoy not being at war with one another, it's someplace I've never been.

[He doesn't sound troubled by it; it's just somewhere he never goes because that would probably constitute an Incident. Fortunately, he has ways of avoiding that city altogether.]

I have artes that I've designed that are capable of creating this kind of effect, however. Not quite as beautiful, unfortunately, but they serve their purpose.

[jagarico]

Not even a visit is permitted? I admit I don't understand how many of these worlds people come from work but to not be able to see something like fireworks...[Yusuke is definitely more troubled by this than he should be but the idea of not being able to see something so beautiful is sad to him.]

Do you think you could make something as beautiful as this? Or if you had some assistance? I can't say I can make fireworks myself but it's something anybody can do if they have the right methods. [There's a pause and then he shakes his head.] But it could be dangerous.

[ideismo]

Unfortunately, I don't have access to things like that here. I do have my personal abilities that create effects that you might like, however, and if there are layman's ways to do it, I'm receptive to them.

[...I mean, Brilliant Cataclysm is pretty, everyone just hates it for some reason.]

I don't mind danger - it isn't as though I'm unfamiliar with it.

[jagarico]

No, many of the people here are not unused to danger. [He gives a laugh at that.] But I do not have experience with explosives though perhaps someone here does? [He won't be that kind of idiot.]

But more importantly! I would like to know more about your personal abilities.

[ideismo]

Very well.

[He can't say he minds the topic, really, it's just that...hm.]

How familiar is your world with the concept of magic? Is it something that exists for you...?

[jagarico]

[That's a complicated question. Yusuke still isn't sure what he could call using Personas.]

I wouldn't say my world is...completely unfamiliar with the idea.