Event: The Thawing

[bravenewmods]

As discussions branch and mount in Union about how to handle Gigas's diplomatic overtures, news of a more pleasant variety reaches the city from Glacier. Although still rebuilding from their own city's far more disastrous dragon attack, the people have banded together to host "The Thawing", their annual celebration of the coming of spring. In appreciation of all Union has done for them, all citizens of that city are invited - encouraged, even - to attend. Glacier has its own pride, after all. It would like to show its new allies what it looks like at its best.

Just...don't expect to go without a sweater or a jacket. The city may be "thawing", but that doesn't mean it's warm.

Comments

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka is looking up at the Thawing Pole, trying to figure out the point, as a baby Skiddo, premade flower wreaths hung on its horns, gambols around her in an attempt to get her attention. Hey! Hey, mister guest! Hey!

Hey, OTHER guest! It runs up to you, bouncing in place. Help it get people for the dance! ]

[heartandsoul]

Eh?

[Whose baby is this? Maka inclines her head slightly to listen to the Skiddo for a moment.]

For the dance? I don't really...

[Like to bother people she's trying to say, and even if this--pole dance?--seems fairly harmless, Maka doesn't see much point in trying to convince anyone to take part. If they want to, they're going to.]

[actsmagnificent]

Ski, ski! Skiiiii!! [ Please, begs the Skiddo. Oh please, oh please, please, pleeeeeeeeeease. It's going to be fuuuuunnn...and it really wants that human to dance.....that human looks amazing....

It runs halfway to Haruka and then back again so Maka will know who it means. Haruka, shrugging to herself, begins to head away... ]

[heartandsoul]

Ah--ehhhhhh--[a Maka Albarn in the wild, when faced with social situations, will often flounder forward and burst out with noises she doesn't mean to say.

A particularly loud and unfortunate one is:] E-excuse me, sir!

[...Excuse me, sir. She doesn't even know the gender of the person she called out to.]

[actsmagnificent]

Hm?

[ Haruka turns. That question burning in your mind will find no answers from seeing this person up close, Maka.

But whoever they are, their smile is great. ] What a lucky holiday. A Skitty this cute is calling out to me.

[ What's up? ]

[heartandsoul]

["Skitty?" she sort of echos it under her breath, caught in a position of how exactly this situation should be approached. Maka still can't tell the gender of the person, but they're--

Well. She's gotten Haruka's attention like the Skiddo wanted. What now?]

Um...th-this little guy here wanted me to ask you to join in the dance. It said you look amazing.

[Nailed it.]

[actsmagnificent]

This little guy? [ Oh, the Skiddo. Who bounds in place, if such a thing is possible. Please, please!! ] Skii, skiii!!

[ Haruka gives this a moment's thought. Then she bursts into a smile, almost laughing. ] Can't turn down a request like that. Want to join me?

[heartandsoul]

[Don't say "um" or "eh" or any other filler again, Maka. Doooon't say it.]

...Ah...

[Failed step one.]

[There's no real reason not to, is there? It's not as though she'd be doing it on her own and if it makes the Skiddo happy it's all right. After a moment Maka nods, reaching up to fiddle with one of her braids.]

Yes, it'll be fun. [At least she hopes so.]

[actsmagnificent]

Ski!! [ This attempt succeeded beyond Skiddo's wildest dreams! It hops off to go round up more humans. So exciting. So exciting.

Haruka picks up the closest ribbon and holds it out to Maka. ] We can go around together.

[ On the same ribbon. Other people seem to be doing that.

Granted, they all appear to be couples, but. ]

[untalented]

No, no no no. Not right now.

[Waver tried to brush the little skiddo off as he meandered around, a cup of steaming hot tea held between both of his hands while he studied everything about the event. Unfortunately, the little skiddo just wouldn't let up...

And grace was never Waver's strength.]

Whoa-- [The young man yelped, nearly spilling his tea into the snow before glowering at the baby.] I said 'not right now!

[At that moment Orpheus, roused from his nap in the hood of Waver's coat, popped his little head up and tugged at Waver's silly little ponyta-tail.]

Foo, foo!

[C'mon, you stick in the mud Mageling. This might be fun!]

[actsmagnificent]

Skiiiiiiiiiii?? [ Standing next to the sloshed tea, ignorant of its near miss, the Skiddo stares up at Waver. There are stars in its eyes.

Stars, flowers, hopes, and dreams.

Haruka picks up a ribbon and examines it. Glacier is unexpectedly cute... ]

[untalented]

[Oh, no.

Glacier was unexpectedly cute, and even the jaded and cynical bellsprout of a young man found himself having a hard time resisting the intensity and brilliance of that gaze.]

I already said--

[He cut his words off when Orpheus tugged at his hair again, and cast a look at the tiny foongus.]

What am I supposed to do?

[actsmagnificent]

[ Sensing progress, Skiddo jumps up and down, its back and front hooves landing out of sync so it appears to be bounding in place. ] Ski, skii! Skiiiii!!

[ That person! That wonderful person over there! Won't you help it convince them to dance around the Thawing Pole?? ]

[untalented]

Wait, you what are you--

[There was no fighting the energy of the little skiddo. At least, until Waver saw who it was that the pokemon was guiding him toward...]

--Miss Haruka Tenoh, was it?

[Though they hadn't truly been formally introduced, it was hard not to know Haruka by her reputation alone. Having been around Right often enough, he was fairly well acquainted of the shenanigans that went down at the theater.

Though, he wasn't entirely aware of the odd friendship between Orpheus and Gene or Passion.]

Does this belong to you? [He asked, gesturing down at the jumping little Skiddo.] He's not letting me enjoy my tea.

[actsmagnificent]

"This?" [ Huh? The guy from Sanctuary? Haruka doesn't remember his name, but she seems to recall maybe having to separate him and Right at some point. Familiar face. Definitely screaming "Sanctuary" in her head, but that might have to do more with the general...well...ah....one can't judge books by covers, but it's hard to look more Sanctuary than this guy.

In any case, he's asking her about....

The Skiddo bounces up alongside him and, now that it has Haruka's attention, bleats happily. Hello hello! ] Skii!!

[ Haruka sniffs, smiling in spite of herself. The tea, huh? ] Sure it doesn't want some?

[ Or like you? She seems to remember you being a pretty negative guy. Might not have occurred to you. ]

[untalented]

[Pshaw. Why would anyone like him?

The thought honestly hadn't occurred to him. Finding the strengths and flaws of what was around him was his talent, but he rarely applied it in a positive sense to himself.]

Why would the baby want tea? It's obviously charmed by you, [He replied, everything in his accent and tone screaming "Sanctuary" to anyone who had any passing familiarity.] Do you know him-- or who he's with?

[actsmagnificent]

Maybe a local. [ Skiddo certainly doesn't seem intimidated by this festival, that's for sure. And since it sees that the skinny human isn't going to help it win over the amazing human, it darts over to the Thawing Pole and picks up a ribbon in its mouth, then dances back and forth in place. This! This is what it wants! ] Skii! Skiiiiiiiiii~!

[ And really, since it has both of your attention now.... ]

[commissionergrump]

[Gordon looks down at the baby Skidoo, giving a smile at the flower wreaths. As it bounces excitedly and calls out, Gordon carefully kneels, flicking his long jacket into place so he doesn't take a knee directly in the snow and have to combine old joints and wet pants. He considers the wreaths, then looks at the flower crowns on the heads of those dancing, then back to Skiddo.]

Trying to find people for the dance?

[actsmagnificent]

[ This human figured it out so quickly! Skiddo jumps, wiggling its hindquarters in midair. Oh, sir, sir, you must help recruit that human over there! They're amazing! ] Skii!!!!

[commissionergrump]

[Gordon watches the excitable little grass type with a raised eyebrow. What's that, Skiddo? Timmy fell down a well? When the little goat bounces repeatedly between Gordon and in the direction of Haruka, he traces the line, eyes settling on the... young person.]

Them?

[actsmagnificent]

[ The Skiddo nods so violently it nearly falls over. Its tiny hooves cannot take this much enthusiasm. ] Ski!

[ Haruka waves at some girls who also happened to be watching her. They fall against each other, giggling. This only encourages Skiddo more. ]

[commissionergrump]

[Gordon smiles, and starts walking towards Haruka, if only to prevent the Skiddo from exploding in a sea of flower petals and excitement.]

Someone seems to be trying to get your attention.

[actsmagnificent]

Hm?

[ Cute kids. Haruka looks over and - hm. That is definitely not a Skitty approaching her. ] Ah....it's a nice party, huh?

[ She either doesn't get it or she's feigning ignorance. But she is smiling first at Gordon, then halfway down at Skiddo. Who jumps up and down. Ask now! Ask now! ] Skiiii!

[commissionergrump]

[Gordon looks down at the eager little Skiiddo, then back to Haruka.]

I believe they're trying to recruit people for the dance.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Huh. Haruka looks back over at the Thawing Pole to test this theory. When Skiddo nearly trips over its tiny hooves in excitement, she decides this gentleman's onto something. ] Must be starting soon.

Skiiii! Skiiii!!!

[ Skiddo is only getting itself more worked up the longer Haruka takes to think. ]