(Untitled)

[uchimata_ja_nai]

Who: Kaoru Hitachiin (uchimata_ja_nai), Elizabeθ Buckley (ergaleomancer ), Naoki Kashima (scalethetower ), Gilbert Nightray (loyalraven ), Nill (voicelessengel ), Edogawa Conan (holmes_fanatic ), Ran Mouri (karates_doors ), Taiwan (eveningplum ), Tavros Nitram (martin_sorvat ), Hungary (edes_virag ), Kyouya Ootori (ko1122 ), anyone (else~!)
What: Kaoru's setting off sky lanterns. Anyone is welcome to come along, scribble a message on one (if they like), and set it free. Or just

Comments

[ergaleomancer]

Getting up into the observation tower was the hardest part, it really was. All those stairs, and...why hadn't she brought her cane? Because she was stubborn, she supposed, and because she didn't want to appear weak.

She'd stayed behind the counter when Kaoru had come to her shop, so he hadn't seen the reason for her heavy limp. One foot fell normally on the steps, one sounded heavy and hollow as she didn't bother with a boot for her false leg. It was mahogany and brass, and didn't hide what it was at all.

She saw him just as he let go of the lantern and she smiled. "So you really are sending out wishes~."

[uchimata_ja_nai]

He'd turned a little startled at the clunking footsteps, lowering his arms. When he realised it was just Miss Buckley he smiled, turning back briefly to glance up at the lantern he had just released. He wanted to watch it until it was gone, if he could.

"That's right." he smiled a little fondly, finding the lantern with his eyes. "I've plenty more if you'd like to send one out yourself..."

[ergaleomancer]

She laughed softly. "I think I just might...I know a lady who really needs a wish to come true," she mused quietly. The look on her face made it rather clear that this was someone she cared for very deeply.

[uchimata_ja_nai]

Kaoru grinned in return, bending to pick up the taper he'd dropped, and another lantern.

"It certainly won't hurt. And, you know, I'm sure that she'll know you're thinking of her."

[scalethetower]

Naoki had found himself making a lantern before he knew it. It brought back warm, nostalgic feelings. He'd done this a lot when he was a kid, hadn't he? Once a year... But he had so many different things to wish for now. The brush in hand was clumsy at first, but soon the smooth strokes came naturally as he wrote. Different things, many different

...ah... *stalks* >.>

[loyalraven]

It was the lights he didn't recognize that had Gilbert wandering to investigate. It was dark, after all, which made it hard to miss them. Of course, dark usually had Gilbert settling in at home.

But he couldn't quite keep his curiosity to himself, which must explain what brought him up to where the lanterns seemed to be rising from. There was something of a mystified look on Gilbert's face as he found himself watching them rise from up close, his attention fixed on the sight (and trying to puzzle through the physics of it) before him enough that it took him a moment before he glanced around. He blinked again in surprise when he saw Naoki, smiling just faintly. Well. How about that. He hesitated though, considering that the other looked to be in a rather thoughtful state, and he didn't want to break the stillness.

*_*

[scalethetower]

Naoki didn't turn his head, but he was oh-so-aware Gilbert was there. That familiar swirling of emotions belonged to him and him alone, after all. Naoki knew them like the back of his hand by now. He didn't even need to turn around--instead, he shifted slightly to the side, making space for Gilbert to join him where he was leaning on the wall.

He patted the stone of it invitingly, tilting his chin to peek at him over one shoulder, mouth quirked up into a smile.

[loyalraven]

Gilbert probably shouldn't have been surprised, should he have? Naoki was always infinitely more aware than Gilbert could ever hope to be. A faint smile pulled over his lips and he closed the distance between them without any further hesitation.

He settled in, leaning against the wall beside Naoki. For just a moment his eyes flicker up to watch the latest rising light before he turns his gaze back to Naoki. "They're beautiful."

[voicelessengel]

Though cautious and careful, Nill did her best to try and follow after Kaoru in hopes of seeing what exactly these sky lanterns were. Being born only to be taken by scientists left little time for fairy tale like things. The only real windows to the outside world for those trapped in the laboratories were the books that they would so often throw at them and they were hardly lovely windows

[uchimata_ja_nai]

There were more lanterns being set off across the city- Kaoru could see the little balls of light rising up from spots all over the city and he couldn't help but smile. It wasn't quite what he'd intended but after two years with the host club, he should have known better than to expect things to go to plan. In any case, the outcome was still as he'd intended. The sky was still full of lights. Kaoru had still got the spectacle he had planned.

Hearing a sound - he couldn't tell from where - he lowered his arms, scrubbing surreptitiously at his cheeks and pulling a smile.

"Hello? Is someone there? Want to help me send up the next lantern?"

[voicelessengel]

Still rather shy, she peeked out towards him and slowly moved forward so she could at least be seen in the light of the soft glowing of the candles. Tiny wings fluttered behind her as they perked with curiosity at the ritual before her.

She glanced from the lanterns to Kaoru, confused but in awe at the beauty that she could never of imagined even in her wildest of dreams.

[uchimata_ja_nai]

Kaoru smiled at her gently, picking up a lantern and unfolding it.

"Nill-chan? Would you like to hold this and I can light it for you?"

[holmes_fanatic]

The lights were certainly pretty. Even Holmes would have had to admit that. Whether or not the great sceptic would have seen any value in that beauty, or merely criticized the frivolity of the event was up for debate and for once, Conan was leaving that discussion to others.

Wearing the yukata he'd worn for the festival nearly a year ago now, he glanced up at Ran, wondering what she thought of it all. He'd suggested the outing as a relief for both of them -- it'd been days since they'd heard from Elraine, and their concern was growing. Not to mention that if Lavi's plan reached fruition, a relaxing moment like this might not be theirs again for some time. And, as the light of the lanterns caught Ran's face in their glow, Conan realised there was another very good reason to be going to an event with her.

"Do you like the lanterns, Ran-neechan?"

[karates_doors]

Startled out of her thoughts, the karateka turned her head to smile down at Conan. The golden light from the lanterns shifted from spilling on her face to tangling in her hair, picking out wayward strands in her tight bun.

"Mm!" Still smiling, she carefully arranged herself on the grass next to the little detective, wrapping her hands around her knees. "They're really pretty. And it's been a while since we wore yukata..."

The statement brought a quick pang of homesickness, and Ran held the feeling for a moment before letting it slip away again.

'You can't ever forget that we're prisoners. That any happiness we make here is fleeting. Not to say you shouldn't make friends or enjoy yourself...'She'd been doing her best to take Shinichi's advice to heart since they'd had that conversation. It made life in the City a little more melancholy, true, but at the same time she'd discovered that it made the happy moments all the more poignant and precious. They were temporary, so she had to work harder to appreciate them. Of course, it was

asfkja sorry this is so late, you guys! (and so short too orz)

[uchimata_ja_nai]

Too focussed on the lantern, Kaoru hadn't noticed the newcomers for a fair while until he heard them. Dragging his gaze away from the sky, he turned on the spot, seeking them out, giving a bright grin and a wave.

"Hi~! Wanna come up and join me?"

((Normal weekends are my Thursday and Friday, but I'm back!))

No worries! We're just glad you replied.

[holmes_fanatic]

There had been a Tanabana in the city, and Conan had attended -- with Ran. Strange feeling. "Mm, I think so. Maybe not as we know it but ... Vietnam-san and Lenalee-neechan care a lot about-- eh?"

Was that shout aimed at them. Conan craned his neck to look up at the figure still atop the wall. "Kaoru-niisan?"

[eveningplum]

When Taiwan had seen the notice about the lanterns she was near the point of tears. It was something that she and all her brothers and sister used to take part in and still did at various parts of the year. She loved it because it looked as if the heavens really would make a road of light for them to travel to.

With a lantern of her own, Taiwan made her way towards the meeting place where they were being released. All along the delicate rice paper were letters, or pictures as it looked to anyone not familiar with the language. In fact, they were names: Hong Kong. Japan. Thailand. China. Vietnam and then her own...

"We'll be together again, won't we?" She asked to the lantern before she held out her arms and released the lantern on the soft caress of the wind. It took off, floating in mid air before reaching higher and higher as she watched on while making her silent wish for all of them to be together and happy again.

Just having him walk up to her? That okay?

[martin_sorvat]

[Tavros took a little time to get out of the robotics pile. it was hard to motivate. He wanted to just lay there and sleep, and not move, and not do anything; breathing even seemed like too much. But, he liked Taiwan, and he liked the idea of lanterns, and he knew he didn't want to make ehr sad by not showing up.]

[He knew he shouldn't dwell on this. If Equius was gone for good, then, he had to deal. A matespritship was probably not something Tavros could really handle for too long anyways. He was stupid for ever being part of it. Equius deserved someone not... Not so low.]

[He found Taiwan easily, his mind was on a railroad after all, trying to just not think as he made his way to where her directions led him. Tavros looked through his black hair at her, it covering one eye entirely as he walked over, his metal legs feeling an awful lot heavier then normal.]

Uhh...h-hey Taiwan...

Totally cool!

[eveningplum]

Watching the lantern carry higher and higher with her normal red one in her hand to help light the way, Taiwan glanced over to see the downtrodden Tavros. Frowning for a moment, she shook her head and tried to put on a smile for him as she tilted her head.

"You made it." She said rather happily as she wandered over towards him. Getting a better look at him in the soft warm light of her red lantern, she saw that his eyes look sunken in and that he looked tired and while she had a bit of guilt in calling him out in such a state, it further made her want to take care of him. Carefully, she rose a sleeve to touch the side of his face.

[martin_sorvat]

He recoiled from her slightly, but, soon calmed, letting her hand touch his face. A small smile moved over his lips and he closed his eyes for a moment, leaning his cheek into her hand more before opening his eyes once again and looking up the the lantern she had just sent away.

"So... Uhh, yeah, I made it, heh." He voice was rather rough when it left his mouth, but he kept his small smile, pausing for a moment before continuing.

"Um, so, w-what is this uhhh, signify? It's a h-human thing, right?"