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

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. ♥]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Keith relaxes when both wolves settle in. As a Galra he understands more than most but he doesn’t know enough to gauge this one. She looks tired but somewhat pleased. Kosmo exchanges a glance with him. His own eyes shift to a slightly more violet hue as he uses his sight to take in more of the world around him.]

You don’t have to say anything or give us a name. ....thank you for all of this. It’s been a very long time since I’ve been to a new year’s celebration like this.

[Kosmo explains that Blade friend prefers to let people give only as much as they want to. Their choices matter to him. He accepted the name Kosmo from others but Keith has waited patiently for whatever he decided. If she wants a name she’ll have to tell Keith that. He can understand a little better than most. But partly because he’s about as wild as any other creature of the Woods. Partly being of the stars himself.]

[Oho, is that how it is? What a kind, and patient boy he is. The wolf gives a look from Kosmo to Keith and can't help the way her panting mingles into a breathy sort of chuckle. It's always so odd to meet people who challenge her perceptions so often, but it's never been a bad thing, especially not in a place like this - so full of kind, good people. Amaterasu has lived eons, but even the sun goddess has growing to do, changes to make to herself.

She roofs to Kosmo gently, to get his attention, then nods her head towards Keith, asking her silent question to the only one here who can understand her properly now:]

Can you speak with him? If so, let this young man know my name is Amaterasu. ...But, he can call me whatever he likes - I have been called a great many names in my time, by many different people, and each one if a gift I treasure deeply. [Her eye glisten a bit in the hazy night light, lit by campfires and the moon and stars, a smile tugging her lips up at their corners.] But I can't help but be curious to know what he'd give me. He's wise, and intelligent...and creative. I can feel it.

[That is an interesting view of Keith he hasn't heard many people use. His mate does and a few others, but not many. Kosmo flicks his ear and looks at his silent friend. Keith looks content the way he does when he's alone with his partner. Peaceful.

He turns to Keith, conveying what they were talking about in the careful language they had established in the abyss. Keith looks over at Amaterasu with a flicker of recognition at the name. But she asked for his opinion and again his eyes drift to the sky before he turns his thoughtful look at her.] Painter.

[His calm thoughtfulness lifts into a small smile.] You reminded me of why I became a pilot in the first place. So uh, thanks for that too.

[Painter? Well, it's not like she isn't one, to be fair. Besides, there's an artistic ring to it, and it does roll off the tongue quite nicely. Nodding her head in thanks, Ammy accepts the nickname given, and thumps her tail on the grass happily, looking Keith in the eye with a tilt of her head.

Oho? That sounds like an interesting tale, though she has absolutely no idea what a 'pilot' is. Does...does it have to do with pies? A lot of pies? Does...does he eat the pies?

Can she eat the pies? +__+]

[Keith throws his head back and laughs. His laughter is rich and deep, like his voice. It’s too easy to see where pilot might put the mind. He gestures to the sky over their heads with a spark in his eyes.] Man found a way to fly. That’s what a pilot is. We do all the steering and make sure us and whoever goes with us is safe.

My partner and I both remembered why we became pilots watching the fireworks. [He rests his arm on Kosmo’s back and turns around pointing to Shiro where he’s watching the sky too.]

It’s nice to remember how we started out.

[Man found a way to fly. The words strike her and Ammy's stunned expression is clear on her face as her ears lift right up and a soft sound gets caught in her throat. She follows Keith's gaze upwards and watches the stars glitter up above. It's...impossible to think of, but then again, humans are pretty incredible. They do amazing things all by themselves, create and grow and learn. It's outstanding how they can look upon impossibilities - things said to be the work of gods and titans - than figure out ways to work them out for themselves.

The world, and it's people, are awesome. And worth every little thing she does for them.

Looking to where Keith points, she turns her head to one side and squints. It's not anyone overly familiar, but then again...her memory isn't the greatest most times. But she nods and shuffles a bit closer to Keith's side, looking pleased. She's glad he got something so special out f her little festival today - something so very personal to them both. Fireworks are, after all, powerful, explosive...but also beautiful, colorful, and born of hard work and creativity. They're a reminder of how vast the sky is, and how beautiful the world can be.

She lays her head down on Keith's knee and rubs her cheeks against him happily.]

[Learning to fly was the first time Keith ever felt like he was worth anything. Riding a hoverbike and racing against the one person who believed in him when everyone else gave up, was the second. He admires that very man for a long moment.

He hadn't grown to love him the way he does now back then. Somewhere along their fight to win back freedom for the rest of their universe he fell for him the way he loves flying and the stars. Keith blinks as more weight settles against him. He turns his head to look down at Ammy and brushes his hand along her fur.

Sitting here with her is going to be a special memory for years to come. His fingers find behind her ear and gently scratch as he looks at the sky once more. He misses flying so much.]

I could tell you about what it's like to fly the way we do. Remembering that is easy.

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

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sorry for the delay had to really think of what he would give

same, i've been in sickness heck for a while, sob

hope you’re feeling better!

a bit better, it's rough when everyone at work is sick around me, wheeze

been running around trying to get all my stuff in order.