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

[scythegun]

[Yeah, let's just. Not. With any of that? Any of it. Sounds good.]

It would be a bit of a pain to track down everything you'd need, I'm sure. I suppose we'll just have to make do without!

[ideismo]

[Eh, it worked out. Sort of.]

I suppose there aren't any cores to excavate in this area, either.

[Just saying.]

...Were the displays at Nordopolica anything this tonight's? I've never been, for obvious reasons, but I've heard things.

[It's a surprisingly genuine question, not pointed or anything. It simply is what it is.]

[scythegun]

It's a good thing Regaey isn't here, isn't it? Can you imagine that poor man without any ruins to excavate?

[hahahaha he's hilarious.

Anyway, that... hmm. He isn't sure he likes the question, but he's not really sure he dislikes it either. It's weird? It's weird.]

Similar, though not exactly the same. Nordopolica's aren't nearly as refined, and these seem to be created using different techniques, if I had to guess.

[ideismo]

[...does everything he does weird you out, because he's done a stellar job of weirding you out for like the past several times he's spoken to you]

It's different to anything I've seen, at any rate. Though it isn't as though the Empire is often willing to go to such lengths for something completely frivolous like this, either.

[Welcome to the Empire, we are the fun police.]

[scythegun]

[...let's face it, you just don't know how to talk to people and he expects you to talk to him like most people talk to him and as a result the whole thing is Weird And Awkward.]

I don't think the Empire is capable of having fun.

[ideismo]

[........]

If you're expecting an argument from me, I find that I don't have one.

[scythegun]

Well of course not! You'd be lying if you tried to argue it.

[ideismo]

[Heh.]

That doesn't always stop me, but the Empire isn't the hill I'm going to die on.

[scythegun]

I'd be a bit surprised if it was.

[No seriously, the Empire sucks. Not even you could like it that much!!]

[ideismo]

Good to know that you don't believe me to be that vile.

[He is not usually open in his disdain for the Empire, but the only reasons he might possibly have to not be at this point are an entire world away and likely all dead by now anyway. So you know what, fuck it.]

[scythegun]

Oh my, and here I thought you wouldn't be so open about it! It's good to know even those in power can't stand the Empire.

[ideismo]

Those who freely support the Empire do so through ignorance. I don't fault them for it, but it's something I can't agree with anymore.

Now isn't particularly the time, however.

[Entirely too many people around for the time being.]

[scythegun]

Mm, I suppose that's fair.

[Right, right, can't risk having people overhearing about things that are none of their business.]

Was there anything else...? Or were you really just checking in on me?

[The last question is playfully sarcastic, like that's the last thing he'd ever imagine.]

[ideismo]

Self-flattery isn't attractive.

[It's dismissively light, however.]

[scythegun]

[Wow, look at that. If that was coming from anyone else, he'd think you were having fun. But it's you, so you probably don't know how to have fun.]

How cold... Do you really think that's what I was trying to do~?

[ideismo]

[Honestly, he isn't sure if he's having fun or not? Which is likely just kind of proving your point.]

Cold, perhaps, but not wrong.

[scythegun]

[It absolutely is.]

You really aren't playing nice today, are you?

[ideismo]

Do I ever? Really.

[scythegun]

Perhaps someday you will!

[...]

No, never mind, if that ever happened it would just be bizarre.

[ideismo]

Good, you've found the answer to whether I would bother checking in on you or not. Critical thinking. I'm proud of you.

[scythegun]

A compliment! Look at that, this place really has softened you up~!

[ideismo]

Please. You're merely being more tolerable than usual tonight.

[scythegun]

I can't believe you'd call me "tolerable", of all things. I've never been tolerable and you know it!

[ideismo]

Oh...? "More tolerable than usual" doesn't imply that I usually find you tolerable at all, you know.

[It's like "all due respect." Sometimes the respect due is none.]

[scythegun]

Oh not usually, no! I can't imagine anyone would! But am I reaching the bare minimum required for "tolerable" tonight?