New Years Joy - RPLOG
Participants
Date
5/1/482
Log
The music starts, briefly silencing the crowd and making all heads turn north towards the Castle District. The beings had started gathering along the expected path of the parade since the early evening. While many enjoyed the street food and the various entertainers that lined the path, the wait only got more restless as the sky began to shift to tones of yellow and orange, and then darken into the blues and violets that crown the sunset. As the marching band crests past the the gated archway the anguish of waiting is replaced with joy as the crowd erupts in cheer, drowing out the music.
This is the beginning of the New Year's Joy parade, a much-hyped event that had begun as a drunken quip between two of Sweetwater's trade barons, but soon grew and blossomed like a fertile seed as Beings from all walks of life clamored for the celebration to happen. With the support of many of the noble houses, and the near totality of Firmament's business and trade interests (how better to start the new year than a celebration that will bring prospective shoppers from miles around?) plans began to take hold, and six months after that initial whisper the new year is being greeted with a roaring ruckus.
For his first time being back in two years, Baz sure picked a day to leave his loft. The wolf blinks at just how.. festive it is and grins. Tail flicking and twitching as he looks around the wolf looks amazingly happy-and relaxed. Having already enjoyed some food and alcholic beverages earlier, The wolf is just wandering around and sort-of mingling, enjoy the festivites as much as possible.
At the stall housing one of the many food vendors Lyas can be seen, clad in street clothes with a warm cloak thrown over the top. A bump in the fabric shows he has a sword underneath the cloak. The irritated look on his face suggests he's considering using it. The source of his irritation is apparently the vendor - as the tabby Cat gestures, the wolf behind the stand shakes his head. Some sort of argument is happening, though over the street noise, you'd have to be standing right next to them to determine what it's about. After a few minutes, Lyas turns away and stalks off, offended tail twitching behind him. His eyes scan the crowd, searching for amusement to forget about this less-than-fortuitous start to the year.
Sure, it might not be the best idea for Aleera to show her face too much today, but how could she be expected to pass up on a celebration like this? Besides, it's pretty crowded out today anyways.... Not that the feline is particularly good at 'blending in' or 'keeping a low profile'. No, she's shouting, cheering and laughing away as the marching band finally comes into view, and she's... probably causing a vendor a great deal of annoyance by sitting on top of a barrel near someone's booth. When combined with her height, that leaves her pretty high up above the rest of the crowd.
"Flora looks... Mildly uncomfortable at the amount of people, and by the looks of things, neither she, nor her children, have slept very well on the way over to Sweetwater. She's been absent for at least a few months, and LongTech's day-to-day operations have been taken over by Sveta, for the time being. Right now, though, she's mostly keeping an eye on her children, each of them dressed in a well-made tunic of sorts. Flora, meanwhile, is also idly conversing with one or two nobles... Even if her face says she'd much rather sleep.
With her typical, noble fashion sense (that is to say, absence of it), Cirrus peers through the crowd in her adventuring clothes, her straps pulled slightly tighter, buckles locked down tight, wary of any pickpockets seeing the crowd as a ripe harvest of drunken beings and loose coin purses. She tilts her head up into the air, nostrils flaring as some aroma of grilling protein manages to pierce its way through the miasma of bodies, the snow leopard beginning to nudge her way through the crowd towards the vendor. What better way to start off the evening than a snack!
Searching for amusement, Lyas's eyes soon light upon Aleera. He makes his way towards her immediately - they had made tentative plans to meet up during the parade, and it's a relief to see she made it. A grin flickers across his face as he remembers their recent escapades - truth be told, he still hasn't yet cleared the resultant hangover.
"Aleera!" He practically yells, creeping up behind the other feline. While he's trying to make her jump, the noise of the crowd might just warrant him shouting. He puts his hands on the barrel Aleera is sitting on, giving it a gentle rock for emphasis. Aleera might be in danger of getting pitched into the parade, but that's her problem!
The wolf glares daggers at Lyas as he walks off, shaking his head before turning his attention to another customer. His angry glower vanishes as if by magic, replaced by a practiced, saccharine smile aimed at the betusked hippo being that's approaching with gluttony in his eyes.
Small clan beings skitter in and out of the crowd, a tripping hazard for other beings in the best of times, but for Bazalt, a 7 foot tall canine seeing little more than the heads and shoulders of all the other beings around him, they're a serious issue. Serious enough that his feet keep bumping into the small creatures, forcing him to take measured steps.
Flora's feelings are echoed in some of the other nobles watching the parade. Still, a great deal of them look on with either greed or joyful contentment, watching their respective plans unfold. As this had been six months in the making, and with how tangled the webs of Firmament's nobility are, nearly everyone had a stake in this, large or small.
The purveyor of grilled meats and vegetables has a busy day ahead of him. The elderly ferret, two of his sons and five of his grandsons were all behind the normal-sized stall, working a virtual conveyor belt. Skewers are given to customers so quickly that it's almost a guarantee some of the payment will be missing by the end of the night. The nearby Aleera from her barrel perch can only be tempted by the aroma, even as she feels her barrel start to wiggle under her as the marching band nears. Not far, Cirrus approaches, attracte d by the aroma of these delicious treats as the many other beings that crowd this area.
Spooking a cat is... rarely a good idea even at the best of times, and... well. Aleera is a Water Folk and not a Graceful Folk for a reason. She perks up as her name is called, glancing over her shoulder and offering Lyas a toothy grin... just in time for it swap to surprise as she flails her arms at her side and topples forward. There's a quiet, short scream from her, drowned out by the sounds of the crowd and the parade, and then some annoyed grunting as she pushes herself up off of the... unlucky Cirrus that she just fell right on top of, dragging them both to the ground.
With one hand still resting on the snow leopard's torso, she pushes herself up, offering Lyas another smile despite the situation. "Lyas! Come 'ere so that I can hit you fer that!" it's... hard to tell if she's joking. Either way, she flashes Cirrus that same grin, except it's accompanied by the much less threatening words of, "Sorry 'bout that."
Bazalt looks around still, ears and tail flicking as he gently walks thru the crowd-or tries to-The wolf is near constanly apologisng to and at anyone he might be tripping over. "Lyas?" he called out-he was sure he had head his voice-but in this crowd it was uncertain. In any case his nose twitches as he catches the WONDERFUL smell of food-Oh he missed how lovely the food was here, which of course means he's now charting a course towards that grilled meat.
Flora's exhaustion, of course, is more from the fact that she's only this morning returned from Thera'dor, rather than from her involvement in the setup. She's left most of that up to Sveta. "Sorry, give Floraa moment, yes?" the tigress offers to a rather... Rambling bovine, before instructing her children to stay put, one of her guards to keep watch over the hyperactive, yet tired pair of cats, and gesturing for the other to join her while she heads to the ferret and his meats, happy to get away from the nobles, and to get some food for herself and her twins...
The snow leopard does her best to get to the skewers, a couple of scepters clutched in her paw. The cat was never the life of the party, but she knew how these festivals went - there's never any time for pleasantries! She's about to drop the coins into an outstretched, rodentlike hand until -
"Waugh!" Cirrus cries out, a sudden weight sending her sprawling onto the ground, bottom-first, scepters sent flying and colliding into beings and stone alike. Her sword somewhat awkwardly twists in its sling, the sheath swinging out and whacking her in the back of the leg. Nonetheless, she shortly finds herself face-to-face with a Siamese, her eyes blinking as she makes sense of her tumble. As the gears turn, she offers a disarming smile, wincing slightly as she clambers back up. "Oh - no trouble!"
"Nope. Nope," Lyas says, poker-faced, as he backs away from the grinning Aleera. "I'll come over there when you've had a chance to forget I did that." His eyes are drawn to the other feline that Aleera managed to squash. He pauses, searching his memory for a second. "... Cirrus?" he hazards, drawing the name from his old Freeswording days. He crosses his arms over his chest, hiding his plain clothing and bumping the hilt of his low-quality sword with his elbow accidentally. He's thinner and tireder than the last time he met Cirrus, a fact he's hoping she won't pick up on. One ear flicks backwards - he thought he heard his name from somewhere in the crowd. He puts that out of his mind, though. There's plenty of noise, dozens of Beings shouting for their friends.
Lyas doesn't go to help Cirrus to her feet, still warily staying out of Aleera's reach. He snickers a little at her predicament, stomping on one of her dropped coins as it goes rolling by. "I've heard folk throw money away at these celebrations, never seen it done yet though..."
The elderly ferret is making a killing selling these tasty skewers. This seems to be very much worth the time and money it took him to prepare for this, as he capitalizes on his prime position in the Main Concourse in a big way. Even as his sons and grandsons work behind him, he's still waving in customer after customer and passing on newly cooked, still sizzling, delicious snacks to all. He serves Cirrus with a smile, and then disaster! Seven other ferrety heads pop over the stall's counter to see what happened. As it becomes obvious everything is fine, the elderly ferret shoos his kin back to the field kitchen and resumes his business gladly.
"Consider it forgotten, 'en! I'm sure I can come up with a different reason to hit you instead," Aleera shouts back at Lyas, but then she turns her attention back to the snow leopard instead. The siamese cat's own smile widens a bit when she realizes that the woman she landed on isn't completely pissed off at her, and with that realization, she doesn't hesitate to hop right back up to her feet. "You two know each other, then? Maybe I won't punch you for knocking me over after all, if'n it caused this fun coincidence." She does take a moment to help gather up what scepters landed near her feet, offering them to the snow leopard she was formerly crushing shortly afterwards, "'ere you are, Cirrus. I'm Aleera, by the way."
"Is Cousin Cirrus alright there?" Flora offers, as she observes from a distance, trying to figure out what went on just now, before she, too, moves closer and closer to the counter, tail swaying behind her as she puts a few scepter on the top to collect some skewers. More than enough for her, and at least two for each of her children... Not that she seems in much of a rush to go back to talk with those same nobles some more.
Bazalt Baz arrives at the stall just as Cirrus falls down causing him to blink in suprise and confusion. "ARe... you okay their, miss? I knew it smelt good-but Didnt think it was deead-dead tasty." HE grins toothily as his tail flicks, already fishing some coins out for his skewer. He does now notice the other cat, making him blink again. "huh.. okay.. Maybe the joke was miss-Flora? Well been quite a while, ladyship." he smiles at her, bowing slightly. "How have you been?"
Lyas isn't nearly as generous as the others, not when it comes to dropped money. It's finders keepers with him, even when the 'finding' is done in someone else's pockets. Surreptitiously, he scrapes his boot backward, then gives a flick that sends the coin underneath into the air. He catches it easily, with the hand waiting poised behind his back. The tabby flashes his cheshire-cat grin at Aleera. "Well, I'd best mind when I piss you off so I know when t' dodge." That said, he slinks in close to join the other two cats, tail waving playfully. He's no longer hidden behind the vendor's stall, now, and has a better view of the parade as it goes past. This seems to distract him from the other two familiar Beings, hovering just beyond his own little cluster of three. "... How much are instruments worth?" he asks Aleera, voice low, a wicked smile on his face. He's got his eyes locked on the trumpet section of the marching band, their instruments gleaming bright with nary a dent amongst the lot...
Sitting on one of the nearby rooftops, a small, two-tailed feline is chewing on something tasty looking. Curiously, they pick a scepter out of their cloak and toss it into the square, aiming for it to clatter near Lyas. Other than that, they seem to, wait, where'd they go? Apparently, to a lower roof, a more shaded one.
The gears turn in the snep's head some more, peering at Lyas as her memory sluggishly matches his face with a name. She blinks - "Lyas? I've not seen you in ages," Cirrus remarks, collecting some of her dropped coin before clambering back onto her feet. She's not going to go hunting through legs for scepters, and, besides - she's holding a kebab rather close to herself, and she'd rather not leech juices onto some clothes when she could be actually eating it, collecting her coins from the siamese's hand as well, quickly stowing it in her coinpurse once more.
"Nice to meet you, then, Aleera. I'm, uh - Cirrus, yes." She curtly nods, smile fading somewhat as the initial shock of toppling over passes and her fangs meet the chunks of roasted meat on the skewer. Between bites - "I'd offer you a handshake, but it seems you already went full-in with the embrace. Only missing the kisses on the cheek for a Cliffside greeting there."
"Doing quite alright, Cousin Flora." Cirrus adds, glancing over her shoulder to peer over at the Tabby. "Just a bit of a tumble, is all."
As the marching band is just about crossing the center line of the concourse, a loud series of loud pops draws the attention of the crowds back to the gates. Another large group of being are emerging, hot on the heels of the marching band itself. Dancing beings execute carefully choreographed routines, and the very air sparkles figuratively with their energy, and literally as moments later large arcs of light streak out from the beings' hands and fracture into flashing crackles.
Shortly behind the dancers, smartly dressed beings (largely felines and other graceful folk, all dressed in the ceremonial finery of House Longtail and House Blackback) are holding large spear-like poles with colorful, pointed bundles at the end. The lead such being hefts his contraption, and as if on cue one of the dancers turns around and casts a small spark at the bottom of the bundle. A small wick ignites, and with a loud whistle the bundle shoots up into the air, detonating at altitude into a colorful green starburst that bathes the square in light.
This show repeats itself, again and again. Each time one of those bundles is lifted the dancers ignite it through some choreographed means and more splashes of light and sound are produced to dazzle the crowd. While the populace are amazed, most of the nobles seem either unfazed, produce slight smiles, or display knowing smirks. They'd been given a demonstration of this weeks before, and they knew this would awe and inspire all beings who saw it.
The ferret vendor stares at the spectacle slack jawed, Flora's skewers wrapped in stocky paper and held in paws. He stammers, apologising profusely as he hands them to Flora. "Apologies, Y-Your Ladyship, I was.. distracted by the... what are they?"
"That's good advice in general, you know! I've got a short temper and a lotta firepower. But we talked about my gun enough last night, eh?" another toothy smile is flashed to the tabby as he properly steps into view, but then her own gaze turns to the marching band, "Instruments? No idea! Those do look shiny though, don't they? Hm...." Whatever plan Lyas is concocting, one can guess that he already has Aleera on board.
Really Aleera shouldn't be surprised by how much attention she attracted by knocking someone over, but she nonetheless blinks in surprise upon hearing the two beings addressing Cirrus. She peeks over the snow leopard's shoulder, offering both the wolf and the noble feline a quick wave before turning her attention back to Cirrus. "I'd be happy to give you a kiss, if'n you want one. I'm good at it -- just ask him!" she gives with a... fairly cocky grin. That smile only widens when the explosions start, too. She does like tohse.
"Flora is doing alright, yes. Just Flora is fine... Though Flora is a little tired. Flora's been all over Promise lately. First Shralesta, then Thera'Dor... Just got back this morning, yes. Though, the kittens are probably waiting for their food, yes. Flora should probably take care of that. Then again," she offers, before whistling towards her guard, and sending him off to get the other two members of her family over, too.
"Fireworks, yes. Mister ferret has never seen them? They're common for big celebrations... Although the clear greens and yellows and reds are a little trick LongTech cooked up together with House Blackback. Friend Sveta did a great job," she concludes, soon offering each of her children a skewer, before turning back to Bazalt. "Has... Mister Bazalt been alright?"
Bazalt tilts his head to the side at Floras Question. "yes? is something wrong? Glad to hear you and yours have been okay." He offers her a smile before his ears flick. "Lyas?" his eyes dart round and QUICKLY land on lyas making the wolf smile and his tail flicks. "Lyas? Huh, been a while-I'd like to talk with you but it can wait till tomrrow or some such, please dont do anything you'll regret tonight!" he nods at the cat, tail flicking again as he buys three skewers and promply starts eating one. "Mhhm, the food.. is.. wonderful!"
Baz does glance over at the Parade, grinning at the music and the dance. "how wonderful." Someone is in a very good mood.
The twin-tailed feline slips down the side of a building, then another, before emerging out from a side street. She slips into the crowd, robes decorated with reds and blues today, easily scuttling through the forest of legs and cloaks towards Bazalt and Lyas. Now nearby, she hops up on a barrel and chows down on some fruit, grinning between the two. Occasionally she pauses between bites, as one would when they're talking, but she just keeps smiling quietly.
The interaction between Aleera and Cirrus provokes a smile from the tabby. "She is fairly good," Lyas concedes, lounging back against the barrel that Aleera was formerly perched on. "That said... she could use a bit more practice." He picks at some dirt under his claw, head tilted down, trying to hide his grin. "Now I'm happy to help her with that, but if you need to get your good deeds up for the day..." he shrugs. While he lazes back easily, his ears flicker and twist to follow the sounds of the fireworks. His right ear tracks the jingle as another coin drops by his feet. Lyas throws a glance at it, the looks about for a potential owner nearby. Seeing no-one hunting for it, he marks it down as /their loss/, then sneaks a boot out to oh-so-slowly draw the prize back to himself.
When Bazalt addresses him, the tabby shoots him a calculating look. To those familiar with him, the look is odd, misplaced - a look he certainly never wore two years back. He debates responding, but apparently decides against it. He turns away very slightly, nudging Aleera. "How many trumpets you reckon you could carry?"
"Finder's keepers, isn't that right Lyas?" Zalthar asks at the tabby, tossing a coin up and down in her hand, letting it glint in the lights of the street and fireworks.
Cirrus' eyes are drawn to the fireworks, gaze drifting over and up as she continues to tear into the kebab. She probably had an invitation to see the test showings that are currently sitting, collecting dust, on one of her tables somewhere, so she's just as curious to what the fireworks are doing as most of the others. Granted, she's been privy to actual explosions before, but still! The light show is worth remarking by itself.
"Kisses, in public? Why, what would dear ol' cousin Flora say? With a girl, nonetheless!" She says, with breathy, mock-disbelief, placing her hands over her chest with the kebab-stick now fairly cleared. Her tail sways slowly behind her, close to her body, trying to avoid getting caught on any nearby Beings. It's not so much an issue for the others, but she does have a, well, long tail. Her eyes flit over to Lyas, momentarily disengaging from the fireworks show. "There's plenty of time for good deeds later, when there's not a chance of being taken away for public misconduct of a sort or two. I'm sure, later, when the light's a little lower and the crowd's a bit boozed up..."
There's a moment of pause, before the tigress shakes her head, while her two kittens start munching on their respective skewers. Douglas is clearly a lot less careful with his, actively munching away, while Aurora is slowly and methodically taking every bite, pulling a piece from the skewer, and chewing regularly.
Flora, meanwhile, is looking about, enjoying the fireworks, and what is at least to some extent, a calmer evening... Even if there are a lot of people around.
"Flora is doing fine, yes," the cat offers, before looking to Cirrus. "Flora doesn't mind if that's what Cousin Cirrus is looking for in a partner. That's Cousin Cirrus's decision, yes."
For a second there, Aleera ends up proudly puffing up her chest -- for a second. Lyas's compliment quickly ends up backhanded, and so she responds glancing back over her shoulder at him and plainly stating, "Remember what you said about minding pissing me off? Maybe you should listen to yer own advice." Of course, those words are followed by a laugh and her giving the feline a playful thump on the shoulder.
But... then her attention is drawn by the extra people who /also/ seem to know Lyas! He sure does seem to know a lot of people.... She likely picks up on how pointedly he ignores Bazalt, but she nonetheless asks, "Are these two friends of yers, too?" quickly followed up by her an answer to his own question, "Trumpets? Fer, maybe five, I'd say...."
However, seeing how willing Cirrus is to play along with her, the siamese feline is more than willin gto give the snow leopard her attention once more. "It's morals holding you back then, eh? Are ya sure I couldn't convince you to abandon those?" she nods her head to Flora now, though her gaze doesn't leave Cirrus, "See? She even said she's alright with it!" She's still wearing that cocky, amused smile of hers, of course, and as the snep addresses Lyas, Aleera simply chuckles. "You know, Lyas and I are going to have a night out together after this.... Maybe you could join us, eh?"
Lyas takes the hit from Aleera without a twitch. "Public misconduct's not so bad," he remarks to Cirrus. "They just throw you in a cell overnight, for the most part." The Cat's clearly speaking from experience here. He raises his hands to emphasise his next shrug. "But, if you just can't bring yourself t' go that low right now, we can always work on the boozing up you mentioned first."
The Shadow-lynx's appearance draws the tabby's eyes for only a moment before he's jumping back into his conversation again, with barely a nod to acknowledge Zalthar. "And how many trumpets can /you/ carry?" He asks Cirrus, with a glint in his eye. He could be joking, but... maybe not.
Bazalt blinks at Lyas before frowning. "A yes or no would still be nice." he shrugs blinking at the voice he hears before looking down at Zal and smiling. "Ah. Sister. Yes. How have you been?" he chuckles at Cirrus and the other cat, Lyas' new aquisition. "Ah.. Wow more old people than I expected to meet. this is pleasant." HE sighs happily, patting Zal briefly. "hope all are enjoying this?"
"Coming through! Coming through!" Two large beings, an elephant and a bison, awkwardly carry a rather large crate through the crowd. They pass not far from the ferret's stall, on their way to a fenced off area concealed by a large curtain. A stage perhaps, being used for storage?
In the center of the concourse, the parade of beings stops suddenly. The very last being holding one of those firework bundles is the only one moving, marching towards the center of the dancers who are all holding poses, looking at him as he approaches. The sudden silence draws the attention of the crowd, many wondering if something is wrong. The cheetah holding the firework-spear plants it on the ground, points up dramatically, and in unison all the dancers resume dancing, waving their arms and pointing fingers as they too channel magic at it.
The firework ignites and streaks off into the air, farther and higher than the others as it is impelled by both the chemical charge and a helping of air mathemagic. Then, it detonates. Not once, not twice, but three times. Each explosion streaking in a different color, covering more of the sky, shining brighter and ringing louder than the previous. By the third, the sound is awe-inspiring, and the sky is illuminated so bright it briefly looks like daylight has made a return.. and then it is gone, leaving behind the hysterical cheers of the crowd as the parade resumes marching to the beat.
Zalthar catches the nod from the tabby, before turning back to Bazalt "The days tend to pass quickly when you've been traveling." She says, twitching an ear. "There are a lot of people here. Bit more than comfort, though." It's pretty clear in her body, as well, as she's started anxiously shifting about, tail flicking rapidly at its tip.
As the larger firework shoots up, the tigress starts counting down, slowly but surely. And then, when she reaches 0, the first explosion, green. Another countdown. 0, and... Red. And then, that final countdown, longer than before, the 0 unable to be heard by anyone over the sound of the explosion, and for a moment, the nearly blinding flash of light.
"Friend Sveta did a great job," she concludes, smiling broadly.
"Depends on what 'Night Out' means," Cirrus replies, slipping her wooden kebab stick into a nearby wastebin and folding her arms over her chest. She turns her head to Flora for a moment, sticking her tongue out of her mouth just a tad. "I was making a joke, cousin. I don't actually care -terribly- much... no offense, of course. Though - on a more serious note - ...actually, nevermind." Her glance slides back over to Aleera for a second, waiting to catch any reactions to her speech.
The cat's eyes are drawn back to the parade as more fireworks go off, the grand explosion practically entrancing, colors filtering through the furs of beings and casting new shadows on the ground. Once it fades, she blinks several times, trying to readjust to the sun's own fading light. The snow leopard shakes her head, then turns to Lyas, "The boozing up's probably a good idea. I wonder if they erected one of those portable bar things... y'know, with the ale up on a cart, spigots hammered in." Her eyes glance down to her sword, and the Longtail emblem in the pommel, then back over to Lyas. "I don't typically fancy myself a thief, but - at least four. Though... if you managed to nick a costume or uniform and a cart..."
Lyas tracks the elephant and bison as they maneuver their load out of sight. "Now there's sommat interesting," he murmurs to Aleera, leaning in close to the other feline with a sly look. "Reckon we should find out what that's about." He straightens, looking over their current company. Best not to tip Flora off, who knows what she'd do upon hearing of his planned mischief. Bazalt and Zalthar are also out of the question - for reasons they tabby doesn't seem likely to discuss anytime soon.
With a sudden bright smile, the Cat snags Aleera by the waist, pulling her in. "There's a stand with imported beer over that way," he tells her, for their company's benefit. "We should get our hands on some. I've a taste for Cliffside's particular swill after all the time I spent there." Giving Aleera's hip a squeeze, he throws a challenging look to Cirrus. "...You're welcome to tag along. If you can keep pace with us common folk."
Bazalt flicks his ears, glancing at FLora and folloing her line of sight. blink as she reaches 0 and it detonates, he claps. once the show is over he cheers. "Impressive. Very very much so!" He turns and nods at Zal. "Yeah I know. I've been.. traveling most of the two years i left." he smiles and then frowns. "you can to sit on my shoulders or something? you'll be more out of the way." he Finishes off his skewers and then glares at the three cats. "right i'm stopping you there, NO crime. at all. I'll call a guard over here and keep them near you all night if i must."
Aleera is, of course, getting ready to respond to Cirrus... but then her attention is drawn by all of the explosions and commotion! She giggles like a school girl through that big firework display, but even that giggling ends up interrupted when the two large beings run past. She watches them, peering curiously as they disappear under that curtain.... Her eyes narrow, and she gives Lyas the sort of knowing look that makes it clear that she's thinking exactly what he is. Her own voice grows a bit quieter, and she returns that conspiratorial lean, "I bet we could, aye.... I wonder if that's where they're keeping whatever powder is in those explode-y things."
Course, she doesn't have long to consider that before Lyas's arm is around her waist! She perks and straightens up, a toothy grin of her own forming on her muzzle as she falls in line beside the tabby... but, there is one thing that seems to be standing in the way of their fun. She might not know who this wolf is, but... if looks could kill, then the glare she shoots him would have him dead. "Piss off! We're not doin' nothing. Or is it illegal for a few adventurers to go get some drinks together 'round 'ere?"
Flora, likewise, raises a brow. "No crime," she echoes, tail swaying behind her as she moves over. "There are kittens here," she adds, gesturing towards her two children, before looking at Cirrus in particular. "Having a drink is fine, but if Flora finds out any crimes've been committed by a cousin..."
"... Flora also imagines Cousin Lucasiel would not approve," she notes, her tail still swaying behind her.
Zalthar primes her legs up underneath her, and leaps up onto Baz's shoulder, visibly looking less uncomfortable. "The north lands are a lot different than here." The firey cats of Aleera and Lyas do seem to interest Zal, but she makes a point of absoutely not looking at them, decidedly, anywhere else.
The shadow wolf frowns at Lyas and his companion before sighing. "Lyas. Its been two years, I thoough you were getting better. but clearly if you're just going to fall into your old ways so easily... then.. i guess you've lied to me like you have everyone else. can add promise breaker to your list." Baz lets out a sigh and turns to Flora. "First time seeming teh little ones, They are... Cute." he smiles. "Have much happened around here? like.. anything important? I left around the time of the faire."
Looking at Zal and her leap to his shoulder the wolf nods. "Alot of places are diffrent than here, yeah." he smiles at her, and nods as she actaully tries not to commit a crime.
More of the dancing performers appear in a trickle, interspersed with more mundane looking beings that wave at the crowd. They don't perform acrobatics, or feats of mathemagic, but they do carry with them gifts, gifts for the crowd. A large elephant being, wearing the traditional apron of a cook tosses small cloth bundles out of his apron pocket at the crowd. The bundles are snatched out of the air or picked up as they land, with parents and small beings alike delighting in finding inside a sample of candies and treats from the nearby confectionery, Aunty May's Sweet Shop.
Just behind him, a pair of feline beings, clearly twins from their near-identical appearance, are handing out perfumed streamers each to one side of the crowd flanking the parade. The streamers bear the elegant insignia of a well known (and expensive) beauty shop, and fill the air with their delicate fragrance as maidens and lads alike tie them to their hair, tusks or wrists, or toss them up into the air in a shower of color. More and more such beings emerge, some waving banners representative of their own shops or trades, while others just march awkwardly, clearly overwhelmed by the crowds and the many eyes suddenly upon them.
"Of course, of course, cousin. You'll certainly not hear a peep about any crimes from dear cousin Cirrus, nope. Though - I don't exactly recall Lucasiel. I suppose you'll have to introduce me sometime." Cirrus replies to Flora, flashing a smile to the tabby cat. Her gaze slides right over Bazalt - she didn't recall him, all that well. In fact, she doesn't recall meeting him at all! Probably her faulty memory at work.
"Imported beer, huh." She replies to Lyas, shuffling a bit closer after he pulls Aleera in. "I... suppose. I don't suppose they have any Cliffside spirits over there, do they? That's always some..... uh, interesting stuff. Making me miss the Freesword's bar, if that's actually possible."
"Cousin lucasiel. Black panther. About this high, yes. Doesn't particularly fancy the criminal side of the family. Carries a big axe," the tigress offers with a faint smile, before going silent. amd simply listening to Bazalt and Lyas, for the time being.
Lyas draws Aleera further away from the group, stopping to spin her briskly about. "Some booze, a spot of dancing, then who knows?" he smirks to her. The look he gives Bazalt is cool, if not freezing. "That's not a nice thing to do to the guards," he says to Bazalt's threat, with a odd, cocky grin. His hand leaves Cirrus's waist long enough to brush past the sword at his side. Then he's slipping his arm back around the sailor Cat, glib air restored. His other hand is held out towards Cirrus, eyebrows raised. "Not just Cliffside. From all over the world, near enough," he comments lightly. "Well, we're going now. Make your mind up fast, aright?" It seems that Cirrus is hooked, but the Cat is focussed on Flora as he says this, daring her to hold Cirrus back.
The wolf pipes up again, and while Lyas tries to tune out his disappointed words - they hit a little hard, this time. Still, the Cat barely wavers. His hand - extended to Cirrus - drops an inch, but then he's reaching out again, gesturing with two fingers. "Let's raise some havoc."
Zalthar just says two words, spoken just softly enough to be heard. "Bye Lyas." Followed by a flick of a coin to clatter on the ground just in front of him. "Brother, I'm going to go. It's too noisy and bright here for me." She doesn't move quite yet, eyes scouring the surfaces to climb on and the routes to escape through.
Aleera giggles a bit as she's spun around, and the feline even ends up draping her arms around Lyas's shoulders! It... looks a bit unusual considering she's taller than him, sure, but the feist feline is seemingly more than happy to go alng with it. "Aye, who knows?" she echoes, "'Course, dancing might be a little harder to do with a third, but I'm sure that we can figure somethin' out...." She eyes Cirrus playfully, examining the snep for a moment, but... for now, at least, her expression doesn't betray exactly why she's looking. No, after that moment passes she simply looks back to Lyas, her attention returning to him just in time for him to finish making that threat. "Aye, I'm sure there's plenty of people sellin' booze around 'ere," she adds, and then flashes a smile to Cirrus, "Like he said, don't waste too much time, yeah? We've got lots to do befer the night's over." Baz's attempt at a guilt trip does earn another glare from her, but... not much more than that. Although it's... difficult to tell if she actually heard the two-tailed feline's emotional sucker punch....
Bazalt Just sighs, nodding at Zal he gives Lyas one looks before turning away. "so.. any good drink stands around here?" he shakes his head and his smile returns, tail flicking as he turns his attention to Florar. "Avoiding the other nobles then? Too tired to deal with their.... questions? line of conversations?"
"Dancing is... certainly not my strong suit." Cirrus mentions, looking momentarily hesitant. She shrugs, slightly shakes her head - taking Lyas' hand and taking a step toward the feline duo. "Mmh. World travelling is a bit more than I can stomach, but a flight of brews from around Promise? That's hard to say no to."
Normally, she wasn't the sort to raise tons of havoc. But, as they say, curiosity killed the cat. Just - hopefully not literally. To Flora, in parting, she adds, "I tried an axe, once. Didn't like it too much. Too much stick. Not enough steel."
Lyas threads his fingers through Cirrus's with a wink, and leads the other two felines off through the crowd, threading their way amongst the throngs of Beings. It isn't hard to draw up alongside the curtain, and it's laughably easy to slip inside. All they need do is wait until a particularly large hippo blocks the street from view. In that instant Lyas's tail is disappearing behind the curtain-flap, leaving the ladies to follow behind. "Shortcut!" he calls back to Cirrus mischievously, just in case she really still believes they're headed to the liquor stand.
A bright flash draws the attention of some of the crowd away from the parade, to a section that had been off-limits beforehand. What many had assumed was a hidden stage, concealed behind running curtains, reveals itself to be a picture-taking platform for LongTech's own picture cameras.
Another camera is set up nearby, manned by an engineer and a being who, by the looks of things, has just blinded himself with the bright flash of light he's just created using mathemagic. With great care, the camera's operator extracts from it a sealed plate containing the first picture taken of the first ever New Year's Joy parade, a piece of art and history. He turns around, nearly walking face first into two sneaking cats. The third sneaking cat was caught in the foreground of the picture, and was looking straight into the dazing flash to boot.
In the center of the concourse the parade continues in full strength, with more representatives for various stores, services and manufactories showing off their products by handing out samples. At the same time, dancers and musicians perform, and with the the drums of the main marching band now well into Saint's Square the music echoing around the Main Concourse is now dominated by stringed and wind instruments, their light sounds delighting many a fuzzy ear.
The picture being taken spurs activity among the crowd. More of the beings turn towards each other, conversations sprouting up every which way, food and drink once again exchanging hands. Indeed, any of the beings that might glance around will see everything from tankards of beer to glasses of spirits being passed and exchanging hands at various nearby stalls.
"Yes. Flora is not good at it. Flora prefers the lab, but, well... Flora also has to be present here, because..." the cat offers with a smile on her lips, as the first flash follows, and catches Aleera in the first picture. "Flora would rather spend all day studying things, yes, but public relations are important... Flora just would've liked to have been able to sleep beforehand," she mumbles. "At least Aurora and Douglas are enjoying themselves, yes," she offers, gesturing towards the kittens, who've apparently found a coin and used it to obtain another skewer of food each.
"That's alright, darlin'! We've both got some experience under our belts, so I'm sure we can show ya a thing or two about dancing...," Aleera says to Cirrus once the trio have started moving, though her tone is teasing -- almost playful, really. She follows right along with Lyas, sticking close to him to make sure that their plan doesn't get foiled by her falling behind. And then... they manage to slip beneath that curtain, and Aleera has... well... absolutely no idea what's actually under there! She ends up in front of the camera, her eyes narrowed, and all that she manages to get out before that flash is, "What in the Creators is-" Then there's a blindingly bright light and... the camera gets a good shot of her shouting with one hand covering her eyes and the other holding onto her pistol's grip. Thankfully though, she doesn't draw it. Instead, she just kind of... moves her hand slightly and tries to blink away the spots while stumbling back to the other two felines. "Lyas?! Did you know about 'is?!"
Zalthar swivels her head towards the bright flash, one that wasn't coming from the sky. She hadn't yet had a chance to flee, instincively digging her claws into Bazalt's shirt and shoulder for grip. From a distance, she watches the three cats, eyes squinting and being alltogether more curious than she had any reasonable right to be.
Lyas is cracking up too hard to answer immediately. Aleera flailing blindly amuses him greatly - though the sight of her hand on her pistol sends him diving for cover, grabbing Cirrus's arm to pull her along! Safely ensconced behind a handy crate, the Cat answers cheerfully, "Reckon it's one a' them picture boxes. Congratulations! Everyone in Promise'll know your face, soon enough." He turns his green lamps of eyes on the cameraman, a darker expression in them now. "Think we might need to change that." With Aleera's vision returning enough that he doesn't feel in immediate danger of being shot, he prowls out from behind his temporary cover. He edges towards the flap of the curtain, blocking the unfortunate Being from leaving that way.
Bazalt blinks and glances over at the flash before laughing. "I have a Hilarious feeling. and if you're missing the first .. uh... picture? un-pictured one.. negative?" he shrugs. "in any case, i'd know who'd have it." He nods again at Flora. "I.... havnt interact with them much, but being one yourself, i can imagine." He glances at Floras, and with her permission gives them a coin each. "Well, stick around for a few hours and then go hom to sleeeeee--Zal!" he glances up and gumbles. "I dont mind if you stay or not, but mind the claws, please."
The two large clanners were shielding their eyes from the flash, and as they look towards the end of the stage where the cameras (and the cats) currently are. The bison snorts, thinking he might have seen something... but the cats were quick enough to drag their half-blind companion behind the crates.
Zalthar folds her ears back "Sorry Brother, are you ok?" she asks, still staring at Lyas and gang. Her attention is laser-focus. beyond that, her face looks like she's doing heavy calculations in her head, slowly shifting her stance about to move. Old modes, old muscle memory, weaving among beings... no... obstacles. Between her and her objective.
"...Actually. Alternatively, Lyas - a couple of cats going behind a pretty public curtain isn't too much of a bad thing. What if, instead - we all three pose in front of it, and get another picture off? And get another picture, just so they have one to actually publish." Cirrus suggests, a slight smile creeping to her face, from behind the safety of the handful of boxes. "I'll let Cousin Flora know, then we have some personal mementos of the evening. Granted... I'll probably have to pay her a handful of scepters for a 'personal' one, but still!"
Aleera assumed that the whole incident would leave Lyas and anyone else watching in hysterics, but she's nonetheless left grumbling as she finally moves her hand completely away from her face, blinking away enough of those spots that she can mostly see properly now. "What the fuck is a picture box?!" she shouts out as she stumbles behind those crates with the other two felines, "'n why the fuck does it need to be so bright?!" She swears and mutters for a moment more, but after taking a deep breath, a grin returns and she looks back up to Cirrus. "I still ain't really sure what a picture is, but yer idea sounds like fun, I think."
Lyas's ear flicks uncertainly at Cirrus's suggestion - he doesn't really want /his/ face caught on camera, now, along with the others - but as his gaze rolls over the two guards, he sighs. "Well, we probably ain't getting that shot back easy... Fine. I'll play along." He's almost disappointed that they won't be causing more of a ruckus than they already have! "How's my hair?" He asks Cirrus and Aleera, teasingly. "An' do I have aught stuck in my teeth?" He gives Cirrus a gentle shove, indicating that if anyone's going to ask for more photos, it should be her.
There's a momentary smile, a nod, and a flick of the ears, as Flora moves forward, into the tent. That first slide is quickly pocketed away, and the cat gestures for the trio to get into position, tail swaying behind her.
At the same time, she takes one of the wooden slides from the bottom of the camera, inserts it into the side, and pulls on the tab to expose the internal film... Or rather, to ensure that it'll be exposed when the picture is taken.
"It needs to be bright for the picture to come out right. Unless miss cat wants to wait several minutes?"
Aleera's outburst confirms something is up, and the other large clanner is on his way to the front of the stage as well. The bison is busily looking around, luckily far from where the three cats are hiding, but with both guards looking alert the camera operators are likewise. Further, a crowd is starting to form near the stage. The flash caught everyone's attention, and more and more beings are starting to queue up. While getting pictures taken by the 'picture box' isn't ever cheap, the handful of scepters listed now are the cheapest most beings have ever seen it at, a promotional stunt no doubt. Already beings are pooling coins, getting ready for group photos with their best friends. The window of opportunity for larceny is rapidly closing.
And then Flora approaches the stage, and the window closes. Guards and operators alike show their respect and make way for the Highlady, letting her operate the machines - her machines - as she so desires. They don't even bat an eye when she calls out a 'miss cat' that until then was out of sight to them.
Bazalt blinks and follows Flora as she enters the tent(of course minding the cat thats adding to his height) So thiiiis this one of your 'Picture-boxes' Smaller than expected." his tail flicks and his shoots the three cats a very haughty and 'told-you-so' sort of look. "Group ...photo anyone?"
Lyas doesn't react to Bazalt and Zalthar entering the tent. In fact, he completely misses the look Bazalt throws him, as he's looking in entirely the wrong direction. He's busy straightening his clothes up, ready for the picture. He's never had one taken before, but he's seen it done - you just have to hold very still in one spot while the flash goes off. He waits for Flora to stop fiddling, then positions himself between Aleera and Cirrus. "So... are we doin' this family portrait style? Or sommat a little more lively?" He asks, the gleam back in his eye. He eyes Aleera. "How d'you feel about being upside down?" That... probably didn't mean what it sounded like. Probably.
As Lyas goes on saying more things that Aleera doesn't understand, she kind of just... ends up smiling and nodding. She can just ask her questions at a less... pressing time, after all. "Yer hair? It'd be better if you let me brush it this morning, but it's not bad, I guess," she replies just as teasingly, "'n you've always got something stuck in yer teeth! But it ain't that noticeable right now." By the time that they're up and moving into position for the photo, she's still somewhat missing the idea of exactly what a picture /is/, but she's... probably starting to piece it together bit by bit. Probably. "I'm always up fer somethin' a bit more exciting," she quips, following Lyas's example and straightening her own coat a bit, "'N I can take it. I've hung upside down from ropes before!"
"Whatever the pose is mister Lyas, Cousin Cirrus and miss Cat want, yes... But the camera isn't the fastest, have to be able to hold the pose, yes," Flora offers with a smile on her lips, gesturing the mage among the photographer-beings over, and smiling faintly. "Let Flora know when, yes."
Cirrus looks down at herself - leather straps, metal strips, a visibly massive, meter-and-a-half long sword - sure, perfect for a picture. "If you need help holding her, she's like... maybe an inch taller than me. Suspect we can try to balance it out between the two of us, yes." She adds, peering at Flora. The snow leopard momentarily debates taking her sword off for the shot - but, it's not worth it, especially with so many people about! "Swung on plenty of ropes swashbuckling, I expect, Aleera."
Lyas whispers in Aleera's ear, giving quick instructions. Time to see if his new partner-in-crime is the acrobatic sort. Instructions conveyed, he drops to his knee, holding his hands palm-up above his head. From this position, he's poised for Cirrus to perform a handstand onto his hands. Should she succeed in that, he'll be able to stand up and hold her there. "Get ready for the fall," he says to Cirrus. "I don't trust this one. Reckon she's been in her cups all day."
Aleera nods along with those whispered instructions, ears perking, and a... rather devious smile forming on her muzzle. Still, before striking any pose, she does offer to Cirrus, "Aye, there's a lot of that out on the sea. I've had some practice with ropes on land too, though, you know.... I'm pretty good with 'em, too." She gives the snow leopard that familiar, toothy grin of hers before moving into position with Lyas. She rubs her palms together, cracks her knuckles, then plants her hands firmly on his. "Don't listen to him, I'm fine!" a short pause, "...You should be ready to catch us though, Cirrus, aye." And with that... she pushes up into a handstand. Holding that position for as long as needed, albeit unsteadily and... not quite perfectly.
The three cats hold their unorthodox pose as the picture is taken. In the background, the party shines on. In a few days, after the picture is developed the diffuse, blurry image of the crowd and the clear, crisp outline of the city will frame the two would be thieves, ominously being watched by a shadow cast into a curtain of a very tall wolf, and his tiny lynx companion. The other picture, the original one, will never be seen in public, or perhaps never actually developed at all.
The party rages on for another hour, but with the parade thinning and the fireworks long gone, the crowd thins as well. Night has fallen properly by now, and though Firmament never sleeps, it must at least rest off this night. The new year has been greeted, and the very first New Year's Joy was a rousing success. One can only hope the year will be joyful, indeed...
