(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

[idealord]

It's no problem! I like spending time with you a lot, and I'll teach you all there is to know about a teenager's social life.

[Even if his consisted of "follow Cheren and Bianca" until their journey split them.

Oh boy! Hilbert's eager to grab her hand (and buy another popcorn) and drag her to a spot where they can see the fireworks once the crowd starts to clear. Hopefully she doesn't mind!]

[peachbaths]

[ Flushed as her face may seem, Kougyoku doesn't protest when he takes her hand. This was what she's been waiting for, after all. And she specifically told Ringo she'd tell her all about it, too! She lets Hilbert lead the way until they find a nice spot. Don't screw this up, Kougyoku! ]

... I, um, I - I heard that fireworks were like colorful explosions in the sky. [ She still hasn't let go of his hand. ] Have - have you seen them before? We don't have them in our world...

[idealord]

[He doesn't mind that she hasn't let go of his hand.]

They are, and I have. If pop's the staple of a teenager's diet, then fireworks are Unova's. We're a big fan of big celebrations, and back home there's a holiday practically dedicated to them! Really it's for the unification of Unova from waaaay back when, so there's fireworks that turn into the dragons of legend and all, but it's still the biggest event I can think of with them. Summertime's filled with them too. The smell of fireworks is really nice too!

[peachbaths]

[ Kougyoku covers her mouth with her free hand as she laughs. ]

I'm sorry... You are just - it's fun listening to you talk so enthusiastically about home. You have this smile... [ She shakes her head. Don't get distracted! She lets go of Hilbert's hand to clasp her hands together. ] I hope these fireworks will be just as pretty...

Um, oh yes, there is something I want to give you. Close your eyes.

[idealord]

[Ahh, her laugh is so pretty. He has a stupid smile on his face when listening to her, but it drops off into curiosity when she mentions that she's got something for him.]

Something to give me...? Okay.

[He'll do as asked.]

[peachbaths]

[ She takes out a small box from her sleeves and opens it. Hilbert will soon feel something touching his lips.

It's a piece of chocolate wrapped in foil.

If Hilbert opens his eyes now, he'll find a blushing Kougyoku closing her eyes and bowing her head a little as she holds the chocolate piece. In her other hand, she holds a box close. ]

U-um! Happy Valentine's Day!

[idealord]

[That wasn't a kiss.

He does open his eyes after realizing with some disappointment that it wasn't what his heart wanted, but he grins at her blush and takes the chocolate, foil and all, from her fingers with his mouth.

He'll hold it in his hand otherwise, but he just wants to see the reaction he'll get with that.]

Thanks. [But that box... He'll unwrap and pop the chocolate nonchalantly into his mouth before asking.] What's else do you have, Kooky?

[peachbaths]

[ Kougyoku gasps and instantly lets go of the piece. She wasn't expecting him to take the chocolate like that! This boy... ]

This? [ She hugs the heart-shaped box. The tag is sticking out and it clearly says, "To Hilbert." ] It's nothing!

[ It's the rest of her Valentine's Day chocolate, but there's a card inside that she wants to get rid of now that he's here. ]

[idealord]

[Hmmm. Does he feel mean enough just to take it? It does say it's to him, after all, but she seems really hesitant to actually give it to him. Hilbert puts his hands on his hips, frowning playfully.]

Is it from someone? You shouldn't give away your chocolates, Kooky, even to me.

[peachbaths]

No, it's not! It, it's just, not ready. [ She puts the box back in her sleeve. ] When it is, I'll give it to you.

Please wait for it until then.

[idealord]

[His frown's less playful and more disappointed now, but he nods.]

All right. I'll be looking forward to it, then--

[BOOM look at the firework.]

[peachbaths]

[ Oh, pretty fireworks.

...Wait. Fireworks!? OH NO, THAT'S HER CUE. She told Ringo she'd do this!

Without warning (or thinking, actually), she pulls Hilbert close and kisses him on the lips. ]

1/3

[idealord]

[Hilbert isn't really sure how to respond, or what to think.

Because the girl he liked a lot kissed him.

On the lips.

This is what he'd been wanting and then he got it.]

[idealord]

[But wait, she had been drinking earlier! Was this just a product of it? If so, then Hilbert couldn't possibly take this in the light he wanted to.

And that made him frustrated.

He really wanted to kiss her augh.]

[idealord]

[That kiss will be as long as the first two fireworks and then he moves away, touching his lips and frowning.]

... Kooky. [He wants to sound happy, but it's more saddened.] You're still tipsy, right?

[peachbaths]

[ But she just gathered all her courage to do that, Hilbert! Courage that never would have been there if she didn't have too much to drink. ]

Sorry... [ She starts tearing up because Hilbert doesn't look happy, she doesn't feel happy and most of all, she won't be remembering any of this the morning after. ]

[idealord]

[He hadn't meant to make her cry! But he feels bad himself, knowing that even if she might like him that way that it'd taken liquid courage to help her along.]

I mean-- Don't cry, princess, you're prettier with a smile! I've been wanting to kiss you all night, and I didn't want to try because I knew you'd been drinking earlier and that's not right. It's just... [Hurg. Hm. Hilbert wipes her tears with his hand, trying to find the words to say, and ends up just sighing and hugging her.]

Sorry.

[peachbaths]

[ Kougyoku is not sure what that "sorry" is supposed to mean - her thoughts are more than a little muddled at the moment. She is so immersed in her own sadness that she doesn't hear most of what Hilbert has to say. What she is only sure of is that Hilbert is unhappy, and that he could be unhappy about a lot of things.

Which leads her to think of the worst possible scenario. ]

It's okay. [ so she says, but she can't hold back her emotions any longer. She hugs him back tightly. Her sobbing grows louder and it doesn't stop. ] I just like you a lot, so...

[idealord]

[A drunken confession? Hilbert can't stop himself from grinning widely, even as she cries, and he rubs circles into her back.]

Kooky, let me take you home after the fireworks. We'll talk later. [He's trying to sound more stern, but he can't help but feel light-hearted and happy.]

[peachbaths]

Okay. [ All she does is rest her forehead on his chest. She won't be saying another word the entire night. ]

[idealord]

[That's fine. He won't either, since he's thinking too much on what to do, but he will bid her a goodnight after bringing her back to her room and what not.]