Light 'em up (The Calderan Day of Fire)

[expertonshutters]

It's the morning of the 19th and it's clear even to the inexperienced traveler that the city has a different air to it. If it wasn't the atmosphere that got them, then the stalls lining the streets would. Many people are still working on getting set up for the night festival, but the stalls that are complete are lining many corners and they are filled to the brim with bright colors. From afar, the streets look like someone threw a rainbow of paint across the city.

They haven't seen anything yet.

It's not yet time for the festivities so any visitors are free to wander the streets. The natives seem to be delighted if amused at all the people interested in the holiday and are happy to sell anyone as much colored powder as they want. They are glad to explain the fascinating origins of the holiday or even talk shop about what they're planning to show off later in the night. It seems that not even the gloom and unease that might have rolled into town with Union has caused these people to falter with their grandest tradition.

Sometime close to noon is when things change. The natives all kind of stop what they're doing. The colored stalls start to close up and everyone looks tense. Those who visited last year might take this as their cue to get ready.

A long, rattling trumpet sound rings through the streets and that is when all hell breaks loose.

It's every person and pokemon for themselves. Have fun everyone.

[Ooc: Feel free to make your own top levels in addition to using the prompts below! Have fun guys!]

Comments

[heartandsoul]

[Take five, or ten, Maka has been running around on Wilbur's direction to try out "all of the foods, all of them!" and...apparently participating in the color fight? She looks very colorful, but strangely flushed and happy as well. The charge of emotions seem more invigorating to her right now than overwhelming, so it's more physical exhaustion that leads her to sitting down and taking a break.

A pause while she catches her breath, laughs a little at Stella grumpily trying to clean the colors off of herself.

Ah, there's someone next to her.]

Hi, neesan!

[faithfulflame]

[Rei knew darn well that her sib was running nearby, and she was just happy to sit and wait until the tiniest little trainer realized she was there. And when she realizes it? Rei turns, holding out a cloth to Stella.]

Hello there. Enjoying yourself, Maka-chan? [Rei...probably looks a little silly with the colors streaking her face too.]

[heartandsoul]

Mm-hm.

[Stella gingerly takes the cloth, trying to remove the mess of rainbow all over her. This really isn't a good game to play when you have white fur!]

[Maka, however, takes another breath, looking up at the sky as if thinking about something.]

I didn't come last year for...I don't know why, probably a stupid reason. But, you know what? I've been having a lot of fun today...and my dad got punched out by one of my friends.

[She has friends that are willing to punch out her dad for her, this is exciting.]

[faithfulflame]

[Okay, that's just silly. Rei laughs, bright and open. She could just imagine Spirit's face crumpling.]

Did he deserve it more than usual?

[heartandsoul]

Ah...he was trying to drag me off to dance with him, Ryuko thought he was some stranger.

[Not that she minded the intervention, it's...altogether very new but not unwelcome.]

I guess for anyone that hasn't met him before it'd look like he deserves it more than usual.

[faithfulflame]

Hah, that's perfectly reasonable then. He does look like the sort of person who needs a sound beating. And to a stranger, well...that must seem all the more validating.

[Not that Maka needs more validation. her father is a beast, and he should have been dealt with similarly years ago.]

[heartandsoul]

I had a lot of fun with her besides that...you know? It's kind of a different feeling getting to spend time with your friends in their own turf like this. Not a bad feeling, just a different one.

[Says the girl who up until a few years ago had zero social life.]

Ehh, but enough about me, how's the day been for you? Did you spent it with Ami?

[faithfulflame]

[Rei does get it. And nods silently in agreement.]

I did, yeah. We went and tried some kabobs and some of the local drinks. Also I spent some of it with Harry-san. Have you met him?

[heartandsoul]

I don't think so, he might have been on the network but I've been so busy with Stella's "mission" that I haven't looked at it. Is he nice?

[Generally speaking people don't usually spend time with people that they don't find pleasant to some degree, Maka.]

Er...what I mean is, is he someone you get along with? What's he like?

[faithfulflame]

He is nice. He's a...good man.

[And that actually means a great deal coming from Rei.]

He's genuinely one of the kindest men I've ever met, frankly. He's the man that found Father's corpse. A...magus, and a private investigator that moved from Sanctuary to Union.