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

[catpiper]

[The shadow encounters weigh on her mind in the dead of night when it's too quiet and her only company is the rumble of a cat's purr. Those are the times when she thinks about how the Drifter continued on and on, covered in blood and injuries and despite her pleas to stay please stay. Despite the talk she had with their light.

Right now, there are distractions all over the place and she's finding it easy to shove Those Feelings far away. That's a problem for another day. Drifter's here right now and that's all that matters.]

I'll help you rest.

[She straightens back up only to-

Simply move to their other side and kneel down again.]

You can lay down and I'll come back. You can put your head here and I'll find a pillow.

[hyperlit]

only need to sit
not sleeping

[They only settle down to sleep in a hammock, fully clothed, when they absolutely have to. Currently...well, they weren't sure what to expect coming here. Apparently it is food and a calm gathering, along with a sparkling overhead light show.]

will later

[catpiper]

Okay.

[She knows better than to badger them into a nap, especially because it is a party. Why wouldn't they want to stay awake? She always does her best to see the end of these things, though she usually ends up under a table trying to nap once her seemingly limitless energy finds said limit.]

Were you going to play soccer with the pig?

[hyperlit]

not now

[It would be nice if they could, but...their injuries have hampered their capacity to do much of anything for idle fun, including soccer. Heinous as it is.]

would not be playing at my best

[catpiper]

[Instead of easing her worries, that little statement drives home the concern she had initially. They must be hurt and she doesn't push it. No soccer today-that's fine. So long as they hang out here for awhile.]

You don't feel good? Does your leg hurt?

[hyperlit]

among other things

[They were rather thoroughly trashed by their Shadow, to be honest.]

out of health packs
will ask for more
soon

[catpiper]

Okay.

[She's got enough stories to spare for that request, but if she voiced that, they would probably ask her not to so-

She reminds herself to not forget this very important task and looks them over once more. They aren't coughing, no blood-it doesn't look like they're on the brink of dying any second, which is a vision of them she's seen a couple times now. This is an improvement.]

We can sit together. We'll watch people-that's fun too.

[hyperlit]

[The Drifter does not suspect her nefarious intentions, of course. They'd thought they'd made that quite clear before, that their problems are for themself to solve, but the message had been undercut by the failure to actually follow through on this, the last time they promised it.]

[But they've no energy for much else, currently. Not even to press the point.]

perhaps

[catpiper]

[There's so little that can subdue her right now. The night is young and that perhaps sounds more like go ahead to her ears. So as they watch the people, she occasionally points out faces she recognizes in the crowd. Most people are heading to that drink, whatever it is. Eating food. Doing weird stuff over by the soccer pig and-]

Did you say 'hello' to that pig yet?

[hyperlit]

[Their gaze gradually follows hers, until it settles at last at the peculiar portrait. They cannot pretend they understand the cultural significance of it; it rather escapes them.]

looks like her

[catpiper]

Her?

[That comment makes her head turn away from the people and focus on them. What do they know about this mysterious soccer pig?? ]

[hyperlit]

the wolf god

[Amaterasu, they don't say, because they don't actually know her name. They know her exclusively as the wolf god, one whose very shape and demeanor is opposite to the jackal god's. An unknowing comparison that has proven to be, to an extent, unknowingly true.]

[catpiper]

[That makes her doubletake at the image of the pig, getting on her hands and knees to crawl to the side, until she has the best view of the shrine.

That's not a dog, Drifter!! It's hard for her to spot the resemblance, outside of the-

Oh.

Red markings. The white of its fur.]

Is that pig her puppy? Is that why it has red marks too?

[What a MYSTERY.]

[hyperlit]

unknown

[They don't know the specifics of this particular animal, or why it resembles her so, but she doesn't always look like that, either. Sometimes she looks as ordinary as any other white wolf. When she's particularly tired, perhaps.]

[The Drifter's seeming inability to ask basic questions is very rarely a good thing.]

relation also unknown

[catpiper]

[That's fine, Drifter. She's put two and two together, like any good goblin. Relation unknown? No, it's her pig puppy. A pug. Hm.

When solves the mystery and finishes looking at it from every angle, she takes the short crawl back to Drifter's side. It's fine. It's a Pippy, the most gentle of creatures, apparently. That's what she's going to go with.]

We can ask later. We'll say 'Hello' and 'Is that your baby?' to her.

[Drifter probably shouldn't move anyway. It's best if they wait.]

[hyperlit]

doubt it is

[If it's a joke, it goes over their head. If it isn't...it still goes over their head.]

for now
we will let her sleep

[She's no doubt exhausted, after all.]

[catpiper]

Okay.

[It's not a joke!! She has serious, important questions that no one can answer, but oh well. They don't need to be. Not now, anyway. She's got her own wildass logic working.

And besides, that dog isn't the only one who needs to rest.]

Are you cold? Do you want to get closer to the fire? I can help you do that.

[hyperlit]

no

[They have their cloak, and that is sufficient. It was sufficient across the snowy mountain peaks of the North, and it is sufficient now. This is not the coldest they've ever been. Death, for example, was colder than this. Each time.]

only rest

[catpiper]

[Pushing her luck is something she always tries to do in these situations, but-

She's grateful they're resting at all. Not that it doesn't trouble her they've reached the point where they're actually resting-they must be really injured.

And she can't do much, so she lays by them for a few quiet minutes, flipping to her back, then to her side again, like she's having trouble sleeping, when she's really just trying to look at her surroundings for-

Water. Food. She could grab them some and even if they don't take it now, it'll be good for The Road.]

Okay, you have to stay here. I'll come right back.

[hyperlit]

[They're too tired to contest it. Their eyes have half-lidded as they regard her wearily, and...]

ok

[They're not about to get up and leave anytime soon. After all the effort they took to come here in the first place, they can't exactly just get up and depart.]

[catpiper]

[Before she flutters off to who knows where, she sets her grimy bag behind them, in case they need a pillow while she's gone.

And then off she goes, disappearing into the crowd for a few minutes, re-emerging from a totally different section with a cup of water. Apparently sake is off limits to kids??? Too bad, she thought they'd like it. And she hurries to their side to drop it off and-

Heads back into the fray again. Like dust in the wind or something. Until she's able to get more fruit in the palm of her hand, that she happily holds out to them.]

There. This is for you.

[hyperlit]

[The Drifter's eyes slide half-open again when she approaches. It's for the best she hasn't brought them alcohol - they're not one to drink, even recreationally.]

[They look down at the proffered food, and shut their eyes again, fighting down a wave of intense nausea.]

perhaps later

[catpiper]

Okay.

[They really aren't feeling good and she eyes the little fruits in her hand, playing with them between her fingers, before piling them to their side. They can get it later then.

At least they have water and can lean against her bag if they need it. That's a little bit of comfort she can offer them in this trying time. They denied food earlier, too, but they'll get hungry eventually. At least she feels better knowing something will be on their person when that time comes.]

Does it hurt everywhere?

[hyperlit]

sometimes

[Most of the time.]

[It's the pitfalls of their illness, compounded by their recovery from their present circumstances.]

used to it

[catpiper]

[Being used to it is one thing and she understands how that is. It's easier to deal with symptoms that come and go like clockwork.

But it still hurts at the end of the day and she's been able to find small ways to comfort herself in those moments her medicine is out of reach.

Squeezing her hand is probably out of the question and it's a request she doesn't voice. Instead, she pulls the Solgaleo plush Guzma gave her from her bag and sets it on their lap.]

I like to squeeze this thing when it hurts. It helps. You should try to hold that cat really tight.