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

[untalented]

I don't know if I'd go that far...

[He looked up, his ears still red from his own embarrassment.]

But. Thank you.

[niepokonany]

Oh, so you don't know what you're doing?

It's cool. I don't, either, but I've ended up with some pretty cool friends from making it up as I go along!

[untalented]

[Of course he didn't know what he was doing. He was in the wilderness and in the cold; the only thing of value he's managed on this expedition was helping discover a beautiful rainbow dinosaur!

Waver scratched at his cheek, mulling over this.]

Then, I guess that's all any of us are doing, isn't it? No one's really written a book about how to handle everything in life.

[niepokonany]

[Unperturbed, Feliks bumped his shoulder lightly against Waver's.]

I mean, like, everyone's life is different anyway. The best we can do is probably just help each other try to figure it out along the way.

[untalented]

[There was truth in those words. Once again, Waver found himself reminded of the technical definition of 'union', and how the people of the city that carried such a name always took that definition to heart in every action and every decision.]

Yeah. That sounds about right, doesn't it?

[niepokonany]

That's what I figure, anyway.

[This is all getting a little philosophical for him, though... Which means it's time for a distraction.]

...Come dance with me!

[untalented]

Eh...Eh?!

[There was no fighting off Feliks and his sparkly energy as he dragged Waver into the fun.]

But aren't you-- I've never danced before!

[niepokonany]

[Dragged was absolutely the right term. Feliks had long since come to the understanding that sometimes it was best to just pull Waver along into things first and worry about talking him into them later.]

So? You're smart and stuff, you'll figure it out!

[untalented]

But--!!

[He was the opposite of athletic. His skinny legs could barely keep up with the beat of the music without stumbling and getting tangled up together, but that wasn't enough to stop Waver from trying. It was no different from how he was in a real fight; though inexperienced and easily frustrated, he wasn't going to just give up.

Especially if someone else was watching. Even if he knew he would fall, he didn't want to be accused of not trying.]

[niepokonany]

[To his credit, Feliks at least didn't attempt anything too complicated with Waver in tow. He took one of his hands and put the other on his shoulder, and after a few stumbles, decided to ease back to the real basics -- just standing there and sort of bounce/swaying in time to the beat of the drums nearby.]

Ok, so like the first thing is, you wanna feel the beat, and get used to moving with it!

[untalented]

[Waver followed Feliks' lead, focusing far harder on his dance partner's movements than any dancer should.]

Like....this? [He asked, uncertainty in his eyes.] I thought men and women-- or lovers-- were supposed to dance this close.

[niepokonany]

It's just dancing, Waver, you don't have to make a big deal about it like that!

[No but it's kind of hilarious how hard Waver is obviously trying. Feliks starts doing some small steps, more or less in place, to try and get Waver moving his feet with the rhythm a little.]

[untalented]

But-- we have to do it right!

[But he appreciates the slowed tempo and simpler steps-- they're easier to observe and learn.]

[niepokonany]

Right's way overrated. Like, pretend I'm a girl if it makes you feel better!

[Feliks is happy as long as he's moving around, for the moment, so he can give Waver a little time to catch on to what he's doing.]

[untalented]

That-- that doesn't--

[His face was burning now. Having barely exchanged words with women on a regular basis that weren't related to pokemon or academics, and having never been on a date, the concept was entirely foreign.

The women he interacted with regularly were a Ranger and a Historian who were dating, and a knight-like Honedge. None of them were individuals he would consider dancing with.]

[niepokonany]

[Feliks lifts Waver's hand up and spins himself around underneath their arms, then flashes a sparkly grin up at him as he falls back into the same position as before and takes up the basic footwork again (this time with a little more hip).]

Doesn't what~?

[untalented]

[Feliks better have some burn heal on hand, because Waver needs it with how furiously he's flushing now.]

That doesn't make a difference!

[The words were sputtered out in a single breath-- and Waver's feet came to a stop.]

I've never danced with anyone before.

[niepokonany]

[He comes to a stop just a moment later, blinking in confusion.]

Well, you're like, dancing with me now. Is there something wrong with it?

[untalented]

Ah....no. Not really.

[There was no denying the truth in Feliks' words, though. He had been dancing...with someone else's boyfriend.]

[niepokonany]

You're kinda acting like something's up.

[Feliks nudges his shoulder against Waver's, pouting a little.]

Come on, just tell me already!

[untalented]

I just don't want anyone getting any funny ideas, okay?

['Anyone' meaning 'Fai'. He didn't need more reasons to argue with the infuriating bird!]

[niepokonany]

[Unfortunately for Waver, Feliks is dense as a brick.]

"Funny ideas?"

[It's the last thing on his own mind, so, well, it's not something he'd guess at all.]

[untalented]

[Bluntly:]

I'm not looking for more reasons for Fai to fight me. Normally only lovers or people who are intimate with each other dance as close as this.

1/2

[niepokonany]

[. . .]

[Processing...]

[niepokonany]

[No, he really can't think of anything to do about that implication other than just laugh his ass off.]