A Well Earned Celebration

[bravenewmods]

[The battle was over and the god Reshiram defeated, driven away by the aid of Union and its allies. The city was safe, by and large, and as the news spread throughout the peoples of the tundra, they began streaming back into the settlement in droves. Dirty, ash-coated faces were filled with relief and gratitude when they saw that it wasn't just a rumor and that their home had indeed been spared. Not everyone was so lucky, but they'd weathered worse, of course. The people of Glacier endured, as they would always endure, and they were also a people that repaid their debts. And they most certainly all agreed that they owed their rescuers a debt.

So, as night fell after the battle, a great celebration was prepared in the center of Glacier. A wide square was cleared away in a matter of hours, and the people gathered what they could in a show of thanks. Tables of food, bonfires towering into the night sky to keep out the autumn chill, and throngs of cheering wellwishers lined the area. Warriors of glacier, men carrying swords and women all bearing axes offered enthusiastic handshakes and claps on the back. Music of all kinds was played, though tribal tunes full of horn and percussion, chanting and yodeling, and even some brass groups dominated the soundscape.

A platform for various elders was set up, and they offered speeches, of course...but those were somehow dwarfed by the presence of the divine beings that were waiting silently for the proceedings to end. Some of the gods that had come to the aid of the war parties had apparently decided to stay, though their reasons were as mysterious as they themselves. The humans would have their time, and the Servants would mingle freely throughout the evening.

Food, of course, is set out in piles. Meat, fish, arctic berries, and various pastries and the like line table after table. A smorgasbord of Glacier specialties, each with a new and unique flavor all their own, and some (such as the stew) possessing a smell that only a native could probably endure. Akutaq in particular seems to stand out among the worst offenders, but the Glacier natives seem rather fond of it, and offer it to their rescuers with great gusto.

And the rewards do not stop at simple meals. either. As the speeches begin to wind down, a woman some might find familiar walks up onto the stage carrying a singularly massive trunk and dropping it down onto the wood with a heavy thud.]

Southerners! You have done a great deed this day! We, the people of Glacier, would like to thank you and honor your sacrifice! Few would do as you have done, coming to the aide of strangers against the might of that dragon...and you have accomplished something we did not think possible. To that end, we would like to present you with the first of many gifts, a token of our gratitude and a promise that should you need it, we will come to your defense in a time of need!

[And then with a sharp kick, she cracks open the trunk and reveals a veritable treasure trove of three different stones to be distributed by her subordinates.]

Rest well, and enjoy the festivities! You are welcome here, for as long as you like! Eat, drink, and be merry within our halls!

Comments

[incousinswithyou]

[when Michiru summoned her hurt Noivern to check on her, she wasn't altogether too surprised to find the giant bat trying to chew on ten berries at once, Rawst berry pulp smushed into her Burns, and an unopened Potion tangled up in her fur in a failed attempt at applying the product. This is what happens when Trainer leaves her more enthusiastic Pokemon on first-aid standby.

A patched up and cleanly bandaged Noivern now hangs out at the outermost edge of a bonfire, visited regularly by Michiru and various Pokemon ferrying food and/or cool things to look at that aren't bolted down.

Looking a bit singed, bruised, and bandaged too, Michiru can be found walking through the square and later, sitting tiredly with her Noivern. At least her Pokemon seem to be enjoying themselves.]

[faithfulflame]

[Well, far be it for Rei to leave Michiru and her injured Pokemon alone for terribly long. She glides up to her friend with her Beheeyem beside her, the gems along the psychic alien's cranium already beginning to glow with a warm light.]

You look none the worse for wear.

[Rei herself? Looks a little windswept, with sootstains on her cheeks and clothes. Beyond that though, she appears to be in fine health. Fire gods, it seemed, could only burn so hot.]

How bad was it?

[incousinswithyou]

[there's a quiet chuckle.]

Forgive me for not standing up. [she's got a Noivern on her lap - or well, the head of said Noivern, who might be looking at both Rei and Beheeyem with some trepidation.]

It could've been worse. [she's resistant to fire, but she still has a few burns to show for it]

You look well. [a quiet smile] I'm glad.

[faithfulflame]

[Sarek drifts forward and casts out a Healing Pulse all the same, clearly wanting both Michiru and Noivern to live long and prosper.]

I was lucky. I was with Maka-chan, and a woman named Raine. They were able to use their magic to make barriers, like you. With my own natural...resistance...to heat? Well, fire wasn't a problem.

[A beat.]

And a god showed up to help. Cresselia.

[incousinswithyou]

[that's a warm light. Michiru gives Sarek a smile of thanks as some of her aches and tightness fall away. Noivern goes so far as to stop "hiding" in Michiru's lap, raising her head to get a good look at Sarek.]

Cresselia? [well, at least one of the pair enjoyed the singing and the dancing.] Zapdos intercepted for us, thankfully.

[faithfulflame]

[Sarek waves a hand in a gesture of greeting and nods to Noivern. he's...the stoic sort, but he likes helping all the same.]

That certainly sounds like a story. Zapdos is...the thunder bird, yes? Maka-chan met him once. She said it wasn't particularly friendly. But I suppose at least it decided to help. I wonder what it was that Reshiram was trying to do? And why it was working for that man.

[actsmagnificent]

The fire's that way.

[ Haruka comes bearing hot drinks. Talk about well-trained. Sky, having helped apply Burn Heal to Uranus earlier, gambols by to roll in the snow when she thinks no one is looking. A lady mustn't, but she's missed the snow so! The Habitat's nice, but can't compare. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[hello you]

Is it, now? [she looks mildly occupied, what with the giant bat doing its best to curl up around Trainer. There's room though, if you don't mind leaning against Nocturne.

Stradivarius looks up curiously as Sky walks past.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ That's just fine. Pardon her legs, Nocturne. She only has the two, but they're quite long.

Haruka grins at Michiru's bat blanket. How are you holding up, kiddo? ] You still managed to get cozy.

[ Sky, not seeing Stradivarius in her excitement, begins to think she might be safe. Down she falls on her belly, and then over she rolls onto her back, tossing snow into the air. Snow! Real snow from the sky! Glorious day.

She rolls a little more, and...

...hello friend. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[Nocturne blinks up at Haruka, but then closes her eyes again, fully intending to enjoy these ear scritches. Staying shy around Trainer's mate is fruitless at best.

Michiru just smiles.] It's still chilly out.

[Stradivarius blinks. Oh, uh. Was she interrupting? Now she's looking around for an excuse to leave.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ No, no, it's just.... Sky heaves herself back to her feet and brushes herself off. All her shyness floods back into her face, and she blushes beneath her fur. Don't put yourself out on her account, it's just.....it reminded her of...of home... ] Bear...

[ Haruka smiles back. Hot drinks, hot bat, and now a leg playing footsies with Michiru might fix that.

She takes a drink, thoughtful. There's a lot on her mind, but it can wait. ] How is everyone?

[victimlessdetails]

[Isabela, with her usual tact, plops down next to the actress with little fanfare, drink in hand.]

So, how was your battle against an insane god? Fun?

[incousinswithyou]

[Noivern startles, jerking back a bit.]

Ah. Sorry about that. She's shy. [and nope, the giant dragon bat is hiding her face in Michiru's torso again.

And here's a cheery tone. Michiru does look a bit amused.] Oh, it was quite exciting. I'm sure we'll do it again soon.

[victimlessdetails]

Hey, it's alright, if I had anything against giant Noibats I'd have ditched the archipelago entirely. Oh, wait.

[She gives the Noivern an encouraging smile anyway.]

Makes you wonder, though. Supposedly, and from what I saw in our little time trip, all the gods worked together last time they got riled up. This time it was just the one, and everyone else decided to punch him out. I wonder why that is.

[Actually asking the gods that are in this room? Like she trusts them. She'd rather get another human's opinion first.]

[incousinswithyou]

[Michiru just continues slowly petting her Pokemon. Eventually, Noivern might relax enough to at least observe Isabela from the safety of Trainer's lap.]

Five hundred years is a long time. From the sounds of it, some of them may have changed their minds about us.

Others [remember Darkrai?] may still hold a grudge - though it doesn't explain why he would work with a human, in that case.

[she pauses, tapping at her chin] He called that man his "bondmate."

[victimlessdetails]

You really think a human bonded a god? And the god, who already didn't like humans, did something other than obliterate him for trying?

[allergictoloveletters]

[Ami was on medic patrol when she saw Michiru. She hurried over to her, smiling.]

Michiru-san! Are you alright? Are you both alright? [She asked, eyeing the Noivern.]

[incousinswithyou]

[Michiru looks up and relaxes into a smile when she sees Ami. Noivern tensed up when Ami spoke, but the Pokemon slowly relaxes again when she feels Trainer doing the same.]

We're fine, for the most part. [though...] If you're not too busy, I could use another opinion.

[allergictoloveletters]

I'm not too busy at all, I'm just glad you're alright. Rei I can keep an eye on, but we were separated from you, Haruka-san, and Minako-chan. By all means, let me see.

[incousinswithyou]

Nocturne. [the Noivern's ears perk up at the sound of her name, but then she suddenly looks betrayed when she gets an inkling of what her Trainer wants.

Michiru shifts, standing up while Noivern slowly gets up too. One wing just isn't folding as tightly as the other one.] Nocturne, this is Ami. Ami, Nocturne.

[the giant dragon bat glances almost shyly at Ami, and then attempts to shuffle behind her smaller Trainer.] Show her your wing, please.

[Nocturne stops shuffling and then slowly (stiffly) extends her hurt wing. The shoulder joint is swollen, but at least nothing seems to be broken. Michiru thinks it's a sprain, but better safe than sorry.]

[allergictoloveletters]

May I? [She asked Nocturne, gesturing to touching the pokemon. She pressed a gentle hand against the wing and shoulder joint. She made a small noise.]

Nocturne, lift your wing as high as you can without pain.

[lunchleader]

[Technically, Right is resting. It's just that instead of doing so in any kind of bed, he's resting atop of his Bouffalant while roaming the area of celebration. Carrying a big bowl of Akutaq, he nudges his ride over to his fellow teammate and her Pokemon.]

Hey, Michiru; Nocturne! Nice party, huh?

[incousinswithyou]

[Michiru sits up a bit when she sees Right and his Bouffalant. Noivern automatically shrinks away at being addressed - but then again, Right is a familiar enough face in the theater. Also he has food. The Pokemon's nostrils flare as she tries to sniff out the flavor while practically glued to her Trainer's side.]

They certainly aren't lacking in spirit. [she's giving him a quick once over, as if to remind herself that he's okay.] You look like you're enjoying yourself.

[lunchleader]

You kidding? We won and save these people. Most of the gods are with us. And they got all kinds of good food here! [Trust Right to look on the bright side of things. He pets his Bouffalant fondly.] And Betsy's been kind to carry me around so that I don't have to walk and worry all the healers.

['Betsy', for her part, is glad to be around a human that is familiar to her, though vaguely. She at least knows that this human won't eat her, which is very comforting.

As for the scent coming out of the bowl... It's rather heavy on the berries - particular those meant to handle the Freeze status - and there's some other ingredients mixed in, like animal fat to bind it all together. The smell isn't mouth-watering for those who aren't familiar with it, but Right seems to be enjoying it. Then again, if it's not outright terrible food....]

[incousinswithyou]

[if Betsy is close enough, Michiru will offer a hand for sniffing.]

It is nice to have a victory under our belts. [after that fiasco last time. She's a bit more worried about the implications of all of this but it's hard not to smile back when Right is this upbeat.

Nocturne cranes her head, sniffing and trying to take a peek inside the bowl while attempting not to draw attention to herself. That smells...interesting!]