Well, the weather outside is frightful

[rosestolilies]

Characters: Everyone!
Date: Midnight the 16th of December
Summary: The inhabitants of the Garden get their reward for making out beneath the mistletoe, in the form of a lights show in the sky.
Warnings: N/A

Comments

[highest_caliber]

Pulled out of her slumber, thinking the bells were some kind of emergency signal, Subaru leapt into action (and into her Barrier Jacket) and bolted right out of her room and into the night sky. Her wheels ground loudly along her Wing Road as she rode the blue ribbon toward the source of commotion - Explosions? Light? Was it a battle between mages?

Once the haze of sleep and her own recognition caught up with her, she screeched to a halt above the treetops and flopped down onto the Road.

And then she laughed. "Haha, wow! What was I even worried about? This is awesome!" Subaru will just wait there for the adrenaline rush to subside and enjoy the fireworks from her raised vantage point. Yell at her? Fly up and join her?

[wavepatterns]

Fly up? Well, it wasn't as if Ryoko didn't want to. She'd seen fireworks before, certainly. Human beings appeared to be quite fascinated with these lightshows, though she couldn't fathom why. However, the nymphs and phoenixes and flowers? Those were new, and certainly not the doing of a normal human being, so Ryoko decided to investigate, venturing out to the edge of the trees... to see a girl hovering above the canopy, occasionally silhouetted by lights.

She was more than a little curious, now. And it wasn't as if she didn't want to leap up herself and analyze the fireworks from a higher altitude. But, all things considered, it was probably preferable to appear human.

So Ryoko just smiled--when was she not?--and waved cheerily up, calling, "Is it a nice view from up there?"

[highest_caliber]

Hearing the voice, Subaru rolled over and peered down from her solid perch with a big smile. "It's the best!" And why wouldn't it be? No obstacles, no traffic, no distractions.

That said, Subaru doesn't mind company at all. In fact, she gestures in invitation. "Do you want to see?"

[wavepatterns]

"I'd very much like to!" Ryoko beamed, clasping her fingertips together. "I'm just not sure how, unfortunately..." but already she was trying to analyze the data of the stranger's perch. The technology was unfamiliar to her. How delightfully novel!

[headedforhope]

Mami was already wide awake when the bells began to ring. How could she hope to sleep, with thoughts of kisses and closeness still circling her mind at a fever pitch? She could press her face against her pillow, could growl out her frustration into the muffling softness, but the memories remained and left no room for slumber. So Mami was glad enough to investigate the thunderous melody, and gladder still to find a reason to forsake her nightgown for proper winter clothes.

She begins to wander all over the Gardens, drinking in the fireworks display in the dim hopes that their explosive splendor will shove Utena out of her mind. And for the most part, the plan works.

[fatedmagia]

Madoka, who had began to wander into the gardens to see the fireworks herself, pauses when she sees Mami.

And with some hesitation, she approaches her. It had been such a crazy month. Had things settled down? "Mami-san? Hello."

[headedforhope]

No, Madoka, things haven't - but Mami will pretend otherwise, her first and last form of defense against the things that rattle her emotions.

"Ah, Madoka-san....hello."

A smooth pause; Mami latches on quickly to the distraction that Madoka embodies. The fireworks are beautiful, but they can't talk back. "Have you been enjoying the show? It's all rather pretty, isn't it...."

[fatedmagia]

Madoka nods, smiling widely. "Mm. But... somehow, I think they look prettier than the ones from home." It was strange, but Madoka somehow feels like they've gotten a little brighter now.

[abnormalies]

Bells, this late at night? In this place? There wasn't a building she could think of that had bells in it, so it was odd enough for her to begin with. Haruhi was out of bed and bolting out the door by the fifth clang, wearing only a sweater over her pajamas. She was too eager by that point-- she'd waited long enough for a 'surprise' in return for getting so many of those stupid mistletoe things down. (Of course, "long enough" for Haruhi could qualify as five minutes.)

She quickly took to the fireworks display, observing it from all over the Gardens. Different places gave different views, and it wasn't common that something like this occurred. That was enough to keep her attention. It was, in a word, fun.

[wavepatterns]

Ryoko had been watching the fireworks from the edge of a stand of trees, half-entertaining the idea of capturing a stray phoenix within a data field to analyze. But, perhaps, her job should still be to observe, for now. Especially, she noticed, now that her prime study subject seemed to be approaching.

The alien girl turned, glancing over her shoulder as if startled by the noise, but quickly broke into a smile. "Suzumiya-san! How nice to see you again!"

[fatedmagia]

Madoka, who had had trouble sleeping because of the chaotic week, steps outside when she hears that noise.

... It was beautiful. She stares in awe. Once again... Was this the Queen's doing?

Ah, so maybe Christmas would be far better than she thought. Making her way into the gardens, she hopes to get a better look at the fireworks. It was a good thing she was wearing warm enough clothes for the weather. And although she hadn't wanted to awaken anyone, she thinks that sharing this sight with her friends would have been wonderful.

[persical]

Claire is out wrapped in warm clothes as well, though they're probably a bit old-fashioned looking. She waves to the girl when she spots her.

"Madoka, hello! Are you enjoying the show?"

[fatedmagia]

"Hello, Claire-san. ... It's really beautiful." She smiles contently at the older woman.

[persical]

"Would you believe this is my first time seeing fireworks?" She laughs a little. "They really are lovely."

[bluetruths]

Battler herself is wandering out in the gardens. .... Man, it was bizarre. She was beginning to think that she would be able to see December at the rate things were going at back at home.

... No. She promised she would get back home, didn't she? And back to her family. She made that promise.

She's wandering off into the gardens to take a closer look at the fireworks. Feel free to bump into her.