(open) celebrating everything it took to free us from the land of the broken and betrayed

[whatsupcroc]

Date & Time: February 12th - February 14th
Location: Throughout Exsilium
Characters: ANY & ALL
Summary: Separation Awareness Day is a festival and time of celebration for the hard won and retained freedoms of those who live on the island of Exsilium. Separate from the United Earth, they continue to exist, and thrive in their own way. As those identified as teenagers and children are showered with gifts of sweets, foods, and toys from the adult population, merchants are selling on the streets and color had invaded the often grey atmosphere. Feasting is practically a law, singing can be heard in the streets, and instruments that may stay safely indoors most the year are brought out to encourage dancing and such other frivolities as are rarely seen.

The night of the 14th there are fireworks shows throughout the city, with the most impressive display being launched from the remains of Buckingham Palace.

Warnings: Festivities!

Date your threads as you will, and feel free to use this as a Valentine's exploration as well for those more inclined to appreciate a holiday from home amidst the celebrations of a whole different sort of world!

Comments

for shiro

[fadedaway]

[ wow kuro you're great!!

So the fireworks start, and Yashiro's enjoying the sights and the sounds but... mm. Something's off. He's tilting his head, a pensive look in his face. ]

Hey... Kuro?

you're not him get out

[nikubaka]

[ Just leaning against a wall with his hands in his pockets, Kuroh idly glances over at Shiro. ]

What is it?

rude

[fadedaway]

[ There's a bit of a moment of silence. Another firework goes off, and Shiro just watches as it fizzles to the ground. ]

...Let's go somewhere else.

you're rude

[nikubaka]

[ He wordlessly blinks a couple times, then stands up more straight, ready to move. ]

If you have a better place in mind, that's fine. [ Not like he can object he still has to keep an eye on you >:c ]

w/e

[fadedaway]

Okay! [ He brightens, and turns swiftly on his heel to the nearest building. ] Let's go!

[nikubaka]

[ There's that short sigh again.

But he does follow. ] Fine.

[fadedaway]

[ And Shiro leads him up the stairs, mostly in silence, and when they reach the lone door at the very top, he throws it open, letting in a cold gust of air. He doesn't seem to be too bothered by it, though.

He wanders over to the edge of the roof and just gazes up at the fireworks. Ah yes, this is much better. ]

[nikubaka]

[ When they reach the top, Kuroh closes the door behind them and joins Shiro at the edge.

He quirks an eyebrow at the other boy, but this spot really isn't too bad. So, he silently stands next to Shiro and watches the fireworks. ]

[fadedaway]

[ Sorry Kuro, not returning the gaze! He's just staring at the fireworks, and appreciating how it lights up the sky.

Valentine's fireworks isn't something he's heard of before, but it's a concept he could get used to. Sure, sure, they weren't actually for Valentine's day, but it's kinda romantic. ]

It's a lot nicer from up here, isn't it?

[nikubaka]

[ Kuroh gives a light scoff...or, wait. Was that a laugh? ]

I suppose there are less distractions.

[ Except for the part where Shiro keeps talking. Hence the laugh? ]

[fadedaway]

[ Shiro just chuckles, enjoying the clear view. Sure, even from here you could still hear the noises and be distracted by the people doing their thing below, and yeah, there were less distractions like Kuro said, but it's just... different. And he likes it better this way.

For now, he's just soaking in the peacefulness of the moment. ]

[nikubaka]

[ No response? He can't help but wonder if Shiro's in another one of those moods. Like the day before they were both brought here, when he tried calling Kukuri.

So he'll keep occasionally tossing a glance Shiro's way, as the fireworks illuminate his face. ]

[fadedaway]

[ OHHH yeah he is. also watch as his white hair turns colors as the fireworks explode. look how heterosexual this not-date is.

It's weird to be sitting still with this person, of all people, despite the frantic atmosphere he'd remembered from home. Exsilium really felt like a strange deviation, but he enjoyed the people he'd talked to so far. It was... refreshing, in a way.

But a recent conversation he had with one of his new friends came to mind, and the pleasant smile on his face slowly disappeared. It took a moment before he finally opened his mouth. ]

Hey... Kuro?

[nikubaka]

[ the heterosexuality is palpable. in no way do they need to get a room in the slightest nope

Ah, yep. He looked like he'd been wanting to say something. ]

What is it?

[fadedaway]

[ He waits for a moment, a biiiit hesitant considering they never really... ever slowed down to talk about something like this before, but he's curious. And considering his own situation... ]

...What do you normally do on Valentine's?

[nikubaka]

[ He furls his brow a little and gives Shiro a quizzical look. That's what he wanted to talk about?

He turns and faces out towards the fireworks again. ] I spent my life dedicated to Ichigen-sama.

[ honestly shiro were you really expecting something different... ]

[fadedaway]

[ Actually, now that he hears the answer, he asks himself that. He gives a little laugh, glancing over at Kuro. ]

Yeah, I figured...

[nikubaka]

[ Don't worry, Shiro, he'll spare you a button click on the Ichigen machine this time. Instead Kuroh looks away for a bit, his eyes focusing somewhere far away.

It's odd for him to talk with Shiro this casually, too...insofar as one could call this "talking." With Shiro so recently returned, though, Kuroh's had more time to think about how frantic their lives had been before Exsilium. With the Blue king's warning refreshed in his mind, he suddenly looks over at Shiro again.

He looks like he's about to say something...then thinks better of it. ]

[fadedaway]

[ Spent his life dedicated to Ichigen. Came after him under the assumption that he was the Colorless King (which, hey, he might still be), and even though has had so many opportunities to kill him, keeps giving him second chances to prove himself. Even though up until now, it's been more and more obvious that might not happen.

Even here, Kuro would still be willing to kill him, right? He can't do anything to prove his innocence here in Exsilium. ]

...Do you ever think about going back?

[nikubaka]

[ He doesn't hesitate to speak up. ] Of course I do.

I still have to honor his dying wish. [ He peers over at Shiro to gauge his reaction. As doing that could still entail killing his suspicious friend if that's what it comes down to. ]

Why? Do you? [ He's legitimately curious...I mean Shiro can't prove himself innocent here, but as of right now there's no way to confirm his guilt, either. He's just one gigantic question mark. ]

[fadedaway]

...Mm. [ Of course he would. Kuro wasn't the type to hold off on something like that even here. Sometimes, it feels surreal being in Exsilium, but whenever he sees him it's like he's being brought back down to reality.

He does still consider him a friend, of course, but that fact sort of... makes him sad somewhere.

But in response, he gives a chuckle. ] I don't know. ...I'm not really sure which situation is better. Sometimes, I miss home, but then I think about it and, I guess it was never really "home" to begin with, huh? [ He doesn't exist at home. But he exists here, but here he's got to fight a war he knows nothing about... ]

[nikubaka]

[ Kuroh watches Shiro carefully while he speaks.

If pressed he'd admit that he considers him to be a friend, too. But Shiro had fooled him before. ]

Whether that's true or not, this place isn't your home or mine. [ He looks back out at the continuing fireworks. ]

We won't be finding any closure here.

[fadedaway]

[ It takes him a while to respond. ] ...Yeah. You're right.

[ He watches the fireworks light up the sky. The sounds of them exploding fill the air, and they just increase as they reach the climax of the show. ]

I guess all we can do is look for a way home, then. We can't really afford to stall, can we?