Well, the weather outside is frightful

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

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

In the dead of night, the Garden is dead silent. Without the sound of the city or urban life, only the noises of nature pervade the air. Crickets. Rustling leaves. The occasional footsteps of an animal.

However, tonight, at midnight, the silence is broken by a loud pealing of bells, rousing the people of the garden from their sleep. The bells continue ringing for nearly half a minute before falling silent. For a moment, the peacefulness of night returns to the Gardens.

Then the enormous mistletoe plant begins glowing, with a brilliant white light bright enough to be seen from all corners of the Garden. It fizzes, shooting off heatless sparks, and then bursts, shooting up into the sky and breaking into pieces of glowing light, forming various shapes. Above the Orchard, a series of hearts form, burst like fireworks, and reform. Over the Necessities, nymphs made of sparkling light kiss and dance through the sky, winking down at the people below. Over the ruins, flowers of multicolored light pop into existence and disperse. And above the Viridian Pavilion, fiery red phoenixes swoop through the air, burn out dramatically, and are reborn in a new cascade of light.

The show will continue until morning. Fortunately, now that the mistletoe's light has dispersed, it's not so bright that it should keep people awake.

Comments

[runawayalot.livejournal.com]

Well, this is the best night ever. There is now a very excited eight-year-old running around and climbing things, trying to find the Best Possible Vantage Point.

[uberlikehermama.livejournal.com]

And there was Vivio, smiling and just easily flying up to a rather high place. "This is great, isn't it!?" she asked, smiling over at Laura.

Then she realized that she was talking to Laura and frowned a bit.

[persical]

Claire squints, shading her eyes from the flashing lights to try to make out the small figure. When she recognizes it--

"Oh, Laura! Be careful up there."

Tohno Mansion

[ritsu-kouyou.livejournal.com]

After being woken by the bells, Akiha's immediate reaction was to throw her robe and slippers on and go outside to yell at the source as if that would actually stop things. And then she fell silent, caught speechless at the fireworks display.

Arms wrapped about herself to fight off the cold, Akiha silently watched the display from the front porch, looking up at the night sky with a longing expression. She could probably use a warm cup of tea.

[reluctantstop.livejournal.com]

Kris, though she was wearing her robe, wasn't dressed for the weather at all. However, she didn't show it and seemed rather warm despite her thin clothes. The small benefits of magic. She took the time to join Akiha since the fireworks seemed to be the show stealer for the night.

"Someone is doing a good job!"

[hopelessdreamer]

She was leaning on a windowsill for a bit to watch, and spotted Akiha outside in the cold. Maybe it's not tea, but Gal's charge had always been fond of hot chocolate, despite the warm climate they grew up in. Here was a perfect opportunity. She headed down to the kitchen and heated up the milk and cocoa powder, bringing two mugs out with her. There was a blanket over her arm, too.

"Mind if I join you?"

[no-hometown.livejournal.com]

Drawn to the light and color by sheer curiosity, Sephiroth is standing in the snow rather near the plant. It strains her eyes to gaze at it directly, and her pupils are narrow slits. Instead of staring at the plant for long, she gazes up at the sky for a long time. She's seen fireworks before, but never quite like this.

[runawayalot.livejournal.com]

"It's really cool, huh?"

Sephiroth has a tiny companion now.

[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

Sleep wasn't a favourite passtime of Canada's anyway, so it didn't take much to have her going outside to check out the light show. And once she's out there, she'll be wandering around to make sure she sees it all, starting at the Spaceship and wandering her way around, a serene little smile on her face as she keeps it tilted upwards.

After a while, she'll coax a bear into settling down as her pillow at the edge of the Orchard, watching out for other inhabitants and the hearts in the air. It's cute, if nothing else.

[gun-cata.livejournal.com]

It woke Larry up as well... halfway anyways; she'd been only just getting to sleep, after tinkering with her guns a bit more, when the fireworks started. She had the same idea as many others, wandering slowly, aimlessly, watching the fireworks while keeping an eye out for others.

She did a bit of a double-take at Canada reclining on a bear, distracting her from a particularly loud explosion, and then jumping at that as well. "What... uh, nice... pillow there."

Hakurei Shrine

[is-a-good-girl.livejournal.com]

"Eh? What's all that noise?" Sanae rubbed at her eyes, stepping outside the shrine and looking to the now well lit skies. The glow painted Sanae's fest, and childlike awe and wonder soon took over...

"Wow..."

[da-ze-kid.livejournal.com]

"That looks just about right!" Marisa declared, looking at the fireworks display. Pyrotechnics was just among one of her many talents, after all.

[highest_caliber.livejournal.com]

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?

[lastwaltz]

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?"

[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.livejournal.com]

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."

[abnormalies.livejournal.com]

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.

[lastwaltz]

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.livejournal.com]

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?"

[bluetruths.livejournal.com]

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.

[waltzhagen]

Okay, Haine was starting to get a little downtrodden about being here, but upon apparently being invited to this wonderful light show, consider her spirits lifted.

"Fireworks!" It's always more fun to light them, but looking at something this spectacular, she couldn't even be jealous of the match-holder. Haine hasn't gotten herself a residence yet (she's quite capable without one) so she'll take a seat on the soft earth of the Garden's, watching the light show with what can only be called childlike wonderment.

[gentlecuteside]

"I'm not sure they truly are fireworks," Amamiya said. The other girl elected to stand instead. "They certainly are pretty, though, aren't they?"

[snowboundheart.livejournal.com]

Though the event was far from fun for the young Lit Club president, and it would take some serious therapy to get over a certain thing that happened, the fireworks blooming over the garden like so many flowers were quite pretty.

Rushing outside her onsen-bound home for a better look, Yuki stares in amazement at the fireworks as they burst in the winter-sky. It was enough for her to forget the recent string of events, if just for a moment.

[lastwaltz]

She'd just been passing by on her way to take a better look at the fireworks herself. But Ryoko had stopped as a extremely familiar-looking girl had suddenly rushed outside.

She'd recognize Yuki Nagato anywhere. Immediately pushing the fireworks to a lower priority in queue, Ryoko hurried up to tap the other girl on the shoulder, beaming. After all, she was Yuki's best friend, wasn't she? She was supposed to stay by her superior's side. Termination and all.

"Nagato-san! What a nice surprise!"

[bel-donna.livejournal.com]

Tsukasa had been wandering the garden late that night thinking about the few issues that remained in her mind following the end of the lockdown. She hadn't found any answers when the fireworks began and, for a short while decided to sit and watch.

For a moment, she was reminded of the summer festivals she had attended with friends and family as a child. A small stream of tears began to emanate from the Queen of Bel's eyes as she her mind lie on the nostalgic past.

[soapscent]

Jolyne, who had just been passing by, spotted the younger girl. In the glittering of the fireworks' light, the tears were unmistakable, shining against her skin.

"You okay, kid?" she asked as she walked up.

The Viridian Pavillion

[britainsbiscuits]

England, herself, had not been able to sleep that night. She had too much on her mind. She was worried about America, and France, who had been most elusive to her, and she'd barely seen Prussia all month. To top it all off, there had been that whole fiasco with the mistletoe...

But she had been jolted out of her thoughts by the pounding of the bells. England moved through the Pavilion until she was able to peek outside and see when the fireworks started. Was that all? She was worried something had happened. After a few moments, the country continued out into the night and sat down among the grass to watch the display alone.

She was far too depressed to enjoy them.

[beerjugs.livejournal.com]

"It's too damp out here," an amused voice noted from behind the sulking nation. The late night sky was brilliantly lit, and it was impossible to lose one's way even at this hour of the night.

With her hands stuffed in her pockets, Prussia looked upward, mesmerized by the sight. The Gardens didn't seem to be at war with anyone, so perhaps it was a justifiable waste of gunpowder to use on such impressive fireworks.

Treehouse!

[namedforthesky]

Sora stands out on the little balcony of the treehouse, watching the nymphs dance through the sky. It's a truly amazing display, and she's actually quite happy that this time, nothing too dangerous has happened. So she'll just lean on the railing, enjoying the show. Anyone's welcome to join her or climb up to the balcony.

[made-of-science.livejournal.com]

Here's the new housemate, yawning and staring at the show.

"My goodness... what on earth is going on?"

[doublecatsmile.livejournal.com]

Here's a little alien girl who has never seen fireworks before. before. Nepeta had been prowling around in the gardens due to her nocturnal habits when the noise from the bells made her jump. When they stopped, she froze, waiting for something to happen...and then the light show started. Nepeta had never seen anything like it.

"Woooow..."

[notvitiligo.livejournal.com]

Here's a human (mostly) girl who's familiar with fireworks, leaning out of one of Beaumont's windows. She peers down at the alien girl for a moment.

"...Nepeta?"

[swarmoflies]

Sette had been impressed with the lights show. For about five minutes. Then she'd wanted to go back to sleep but between the flickering lights and all the people running around her orchard, she'd been unable to.

"Oi, you, get out of here!" she said, trying to shoo the nearest person away. "Some of us are busy people what need our sleep!"

[variabledge]

Raven finds herself oddly fond of this scrappy little girl, so she doesn't mind keeping up their little playact from earlier.

"A thousand pardons, yer Majesty. I was just concerned--is a tree limb really fit for a queen to make her bed?"

[soapscent]

Jolyne'd always liked fireworks shows, but the ones from back home couldn't hold a handle to this. The phoenixes above her were amazing, like threads of fire just hanging suspended in the sky.

"Damn," she said, appreciably.

[gentlecuteside]

Amamiya had been roused from sleep by the original burst of light, and now found herself wandering about the Gardens. It seemed there were different things to see depending on where you were, and she wanted to see them all if she could.

[just_your_problem]

Night time was the best time for Marceline, for obvious reasons. She still hadn't found her way or her clothing, too busy being blind sided by this new place--The Garden. Feeling lost and maybe a little ashamed (of herself) she stands barefoot in the grass, the thin white gown both clinging to her and blowing occasionally on a faint breeze. She was standing, it had been ages since she'd done so without her clunky red boots.

Although Marceline was drowning in the melodic pealing of the bells, lost in their sound, her eyes are on the sky. It's beautiful, it's amazing and she wishes she were in the mood to enjoy it.

/is the latest

[highest_caliber.livejournal.com]

"Hey! Aren't you cold?" Came a call from behind her. Though it's a bit of a pot-to-kettle statement, coming from a young lady who wasn't that well-dressed (http://i.imgur.com/7WZ9w.jpg) for the weather... or so it seemed.

Subaru rumbles up on her motorized skates and halts nearby. She recognizes the slip, though, and that's what makes her pause. Oh, she must be new here.

[revolutionized]

It was irrational, but the first thing Utena thought when she heard the bells was of the duels. It makes her jolt awake, startled, but she's only greeted by the high windows of her room and the flashing lights outside.

"Huh...what is that?" She climbs out of bed, pads over the the window, and presses her hand against the glass. The fireworks were beautiful, but where had they come from?

A little while later she's dressed, and runs a hand through her sleep-rumpled hair in an attempt to look presentable before heading outside into the Gardens. It's chilly, but the cool air helps her wake up, gets her blood flowing. She picks a hill to sit on to watch the fireworks, and tries to ignore the bells. Her expression is oddly pensive; it lacks the open cheer and enthusiasm she usually has.

[heartovertime]

Waking to the bells and discovering Madoka gone from their apartment, Homura likewise finds herself out in the cold night tonight. Half looking up at the sky in wonder at the unexpected display, the girl is also half keeping an eye out for her girlfriend as she slowly moves through the Gardens.

Homura is in a less dressed state than Utena, having only pulled a warm coat, hat, and boots over her lavender pajamas before setting out into the night. Still, the cool air isn't something to be minded tonight.

It's not long in wandering that the girl finds the pink-haired girl - not the one she was searching for, perhaps, but still a friend nonetheless. Still a bit groggy, she doesn't catch anything unusual at seeing Utena's face. "It's quite something, isn't it?" she says between a couple loud pops, approaching the girl with a light smile.