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

[just_your_problem]

So much for cool cucumbers! It really is a shock that there aren't more pissed off pickles in the bunch, all sour at the Queen.
Marceline quickly lands, digging her toes into the snow. There really is a lot that she has to learn about this place. "N..no don't be sorry. I'm not used to people not being used to it is all." She clears her throat, scuffing her feet.

"Mage? Oh no.." She shakes her head frantically, as the only mage she really knew was (and probably still is) a jerk and a half. "I'm nothing magical at all. I've um..never learned or tried."

Hey wait, did Subaru say other mages? "Hey, um..are you like magical?"

[highest_caliber.livejournal.com]

Now she feels embarrassed for bringing it up in the first place. "So it's just natural for you? That's cool!" She can't be bothered to waste energy on being suspicious of everyone and, besides, it's not that unusual for her.

"Hehe, sort of? I mean, I use magic, but that's common where I worked before being dropped here." She extends a hand, clad in fingerless gloves as opposed to her other, heavier gauntlet. "I'm Subaru Nakajima, by the way. What's your name?"

[just_your_problem]

"Uh, yeah! It's probably major lazy of me though!" Embarrassment, as always, was a two way street. Afraid of coming off as both rude and out of place Marceline made a mental note to be more careful. When the whole of a situation is suspicious there was so little energy to spare wasn't there?

"Sort of is cooler than not at all!" Any other questions that she could think to ask she will fire off later! For now, she takes Subaru's partially gloved hand in her own and gives it a firm (and icy) shake. "Su..Subaru!" Such an interesting and pretty name! In all of her years she had never heard anything like it. "Nice to meet you! My name's Marceline!"

[highest_caliber.livejournal.com]

She doesn't think it's lazy, but won't comment. Subaru has to wonder how she can do something that easy without it being magic, but decides not to pry. They are on a mission for those clothes, after all!

A note is made of that temperature different (her own body runs a good bit warmer than the average), so she gives a little shiver at the shake. "Nice to meet you, too, Marceline!" Subaru gives the girl just a little concerned look. "I think we should really hurry and find your clothes, then. Even if you feel fine, you might catch your death of cold in this weather!"

Her eyes scan the surroundings, looking for any sign of the outfit.

[just_your_problem]

Eventually the answers will come, when the time and the place is right. Then again, the likelihood of either of the girls going back to their homes, at that point, was slim to nil leaving plenty of time for the getting to know you phase. "Oh, oh! Well, the last thing I would wanna do is catch my death or be the reason for yours!"

Through the back of her mind ran the phrase "act normal", whatever normal was here. Marceline kicks about in the snow, occasionally dipping her hands into it. This Queen person? Total ding bat! "What the hey-hey! I think I found something, Subaru!"

She plops onto her butt, something she will regret later, and yanks at what looks to be a half buried black and red sweater. "Are you are that you're not cold? If you are you can totally borrow my sweater, I don't mind!"

[highest_caliber.livejournal.com]

Subaru seems to consider something, her chin pinched between two fingers. If there's a light covering, if she raced past that would clear away some of the—

Marceline's exclamation brings her out of that thought, and not a moment too soon. "Huh? Oh! Great!"

She slides over and crouches to help dig up the items. "Thank you, but I really won't need it. Since I'm staying moving, and my jacket is made of special materials, I'm warmer than I look!" Though she still needs to finish designing her winter gear.

[just_your_problem]

Anything is sure to be more fun or interesting than tossing aside handful after handful of snow! Maybe even snow swimming! No, never mind that. Marceline, with Subaru's help, manages to uncover the pitifully soggy sweater. "If you're totally sure!"

Tugging the sweater up and out of the snow she accidentally shakes snow in her own face (and probably Subarau's as well). Yeah, totally graceful MarMar! "Hey, do you know what's up with the colored fire in the sky?"

[highest_caliber.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure! Go ahead and—" She rubbed the cloth between her fingers, frowning a bit. "...I think we'll have to dry this all off, first."

Then she blinked and looked up. She had been so involved in the conversation that she forgot what she came out for. "Oh! Fireworks. I'm not sure why they're going off, but this is the first time I've seen them here."

[just_your_problem]

Even though the news was bad Marceline took it with a grain of salt and a shrug. She had, tonight alone, gone through worse than a wet sweater. "Aw figs! I was really hoping to get out of this..this.." She just made a face, no words coming to mind for how awful she thought the dress was.

Eyes back on the sky she tilted her head, easily drawn into the different colors and shapes in the fire. "Awesome! So that's what they're called! Maybe the Queen is blowing herself up in apology?"

[highest_caliber.livejournal.com]

She wipes that bit of snow off her forehead. "Well, we can fix that! But it'll take some time. If you want, there's plenty of clothes back at the inn where I'm staying." Subaru points off down the path she had been heading toward, away from the Ruins.

At Marceline's other comment, she laughs. "I don't think it's anything like that, but the middle of the night with no announcement is a weird time for it..."

[just_your_problem]

All this snow, it had long since made itself a pain in the butt. Finally, after glob knows how long of standing in the garden, Marceline shivers. When you're the odd woman out you don't have the luxury of declining offered help or moments of kindness. "Hey, if it's not a problem I'll totally take you up on that!"

The fireworks are awesome and all but being warm would be even better! Oh man, did she seriously just flick snow onto Subaru?! "Oh plum! Sorry about that!"

Feeling like a dumbhole Marceline gives an apologetic smile. "Yeah, wishful thinking or some junk!" She blinks, looking confused. "It's a nice gesture and all that! But geeze, it's not so nice to do it when people might be out cold!" Phrasing Marceline, phrasing!

[highest_caliber.livejournal.com]

She laughs a bit. "Yeah, I was asleep, and thought all the noise was something worse. I'm just glad I was wrong," and she turned her head as she fought with a yawn.

"Ahhn, sorry, sorry! I was already watching the fireworks with someone. We should hurry back so you can get some rest, too, out of the cold."

[just_your_problem]

Wait, asleep? Aw super fudge! No wonder Marcy was feeling pretty decent, it was late already! Kicking and clawing the ground in hopes of finding the rest of her stuff she occasionally looks up at Subaru with the expression of 'I'm such an idiot'. "Yeah, at least it wasn't anything horrible! But being woken up sucks even when you're totally expecting it!"

Two red boots, a sweater and really soggy pair of blue jeans later Marceline stands up. "Nah, don't be! I kinda didn't notice the time!" Watching the fireworks with someone? Hey, that sounded like a pretty cool thing to do!
Wait a second..

"I didn't mean to take you from what you were doin'! Uh, yeah!" She bobs her head in agreement, hugging her stuff to her chest. "I'm so ready to get out of here!"

[highest_caliber.livejournal.com]

She waves her hands. "No, it's okay. It's a good thing I came across you, after all!" Subaru smiles and turns. "Come on then. I'll go with you." Her skates whirr to life, but she keeps her pace slow, gliding casually along more than actually skating. "There's plenty of room if you want to rest somewhere for the night, or just stay for a while. Only a few of us actually live at the inn, but there are also lots of other places to claim."

[just_your_problem]

Wow, Subaru is really nice! Marcy's mind is already working on ways to repay her for it, since that is just how she rolls. "Yeah, sleeping outside is one thing! Sleeping outside in the snow, made of suck!" Not feeling up to walking the vampire Queen hovers, drifting alongside Subaru with a smile on her face. "I totes appreciate it," She paused. Wait, we? "From the sound of it this Queen has a mondo collection of girls going huh?"

Probably a redundant question, one that doesn't really merit an answer since the answer is so totally obvious.

[highest_caliber.livejournal.com]

Subaru nods. "There's at least a few dozen of us here, all from different worlds. This is just what I noticed on the Vine; I haven't met too many in person."

(If I'm boring ya let me know!)

[just_your_problem]

Until the numbers were put out, Marceline kept up with Subaru just fine. "Wow, that is more than I thought!" She pauses a second, digesting the information. "The vine? Is that what the talking heads are called?"

It's okay! But I figure we'd wrap up soon to make way for new threads? :3

[highest_caliber.livejournal.com]

Another nod. "You must have seen them on the mirror. That's what I mean. The plants are how much of us can communicate with each other, no matter where we are, here."

Alrighty, sounds like a plan! :3

[just_your_problem]

She just hums at that, "That's pretty freaky and junk!" She'll just have to get used to it. The night isn't getting any younger so she hurries along, stealing the occasional look around. "Not long until we get where we're going?" She was, oddly, getting tired.

[highest_caliber.livejournal.com]

"It's nothing like what I'm used to, but it's also really handy. You just to really respect the plants, and you'll be fine."

Nodding, Subaru points ahead, where the silhouette of the large Japanese-style inn can be seen in the distance. "Yep! Just up ahead."

[just_your_problem]

"Everything here is a little loopy." Yeah, she just keeps on floating in a strange silence for a moment. "I'll try not to insult or step on them then?"

As the building came into view Marcy aired an interesting sigh. It was thankful and impressed. She'd never seen a building like that before! "Wow, those are nice digs! They're totally your's?" Onward!

[highest_caliber.livejournal.com]

"That's a good idea. The animals are usually pretty helpful, too. Just be careful of the bears... if you see one, it usually means somewhere you aren't allowed to be." Not that a lot of people would think twice about crossing paths with a bear, but to some, they don't have the same danger sense.

Bit of a grin as they approach the front steps. "Well, not really. I live here with my friend from home, Vivio, and another girl." At least, as far as the mun knows. "There is lots of space, so if someone wanted to stay for a while, it'd be really easy to accommodate them!"

[just_your_problem]

"This's right out of some kid's book," She laughed a little, "-or nightmare. As long as the animals and plants don't mess with me I won't mess with them." Simple enough logic as Marceline was one of those people without a clue or sense of danger what-so-ever.

Not wanting to startle whoever else might be inside the girl lands on her feet, "Only three of you?" Marcy let out a low whistle, "You could house a whole army here!" Yeah, lets hope it never comes to that right?

"I totally appreciate you letting me stay for the night!" She said, apparently thinking that it bore repeating. "I'll try not to be too much trouble!" In the morning she'd be on her way, if she could find a parasol and a pair of gloves.

[highest_caliber.livejournal.com]

Another little laugh. "It really is kind of a fairy tale land, in a lot of ways."

To the other comment, she nods. "It's designed to be spacious enough for something like that, but yeah, I hope we never have to fill it for any kind of emergency."

Subaru slid open the door, but backed up a few steps. "Don't worry about it. As long as there's something I can do, I'm glad to do it. Go ahead inside, I'll follow you in a moment, as I need to get changed first."

[just_your_problem]

Oddly, Marceline could accept it being called a fairy tale land. It was better than what she'd heard others call it: Hell, Prison and the like were favorites. "Now we're getting somewhere! Act like it's a movie, story book or some junk! Makes the pill less bitter to swallow!

"You never know with Queens," That was her reply as she nodded her head and hopped her way up the stairs and to the entry way, "This one seems too insane to not cause emergencies and stuff!" She stood in the door way a moment longer, watching Subaru from behind the fringe of her hair.

"You remind me of someone! Always willing to be a hero and help out those in need." She was being sincere, even if she followed it with: "That person was a dude and a kid though!" With a wave, a nod and a cheerful utterance of "Cool!" she headed inside.