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There was a soft buzz around the Firmament.
Pumpkins of all shape and sizes decorated the foot of the lamp post. Ribbons of orange and black strung across overhead. BaChildren ran around in their homemade costume, mimicking voidsents and monsters, chattering excitedly. The adults watched on fondly as they wander around the plaza. They do not wear any monstrous costumes, but many ladies still could not resist taking out their fancier ball masks and picking darker colour for their dresses. The bolder ones brought monstrous accessories like bat wings and horns.
The busiest place was at the Saint Roelle's Dais. Crafters ran to and fro, carrying props and decorations. Dragons setting up larger platform for their bigger brethren to land on. Musicians fuss over their instruments on stage. Loud instructions were shouted by a Lalafell with fiery red hair as she jumped around the stage, helping the Garland Ironworks setting up small machines and crystals. All the while the Hrothgar talked to both the Temple Knights and the Hounds on how to direct the crowds when they finally came to the plaza to see the show.
Masa watched it all in a small covered area back stage. He wrung the curtains in his hand as he watched the crowd grew steadily in size. His ears flipping back and forwards, catching all the sounds. Yet somehow his brother still can sneak up on him.
"Hey." Masa jumped a little. He whipped around to see Odori leaning on some machinery and staring at him. "Are you okay?"
[I'm fine.] Masa signed quickly. Odori rolled his eyes.
"I don't have my blindfold on." He said simply.
Oh. Masa's ear drooped back.
Oh right, he could see all of my thoughts thanks to his echo.
Odori huffed. Seeing those disembodied mouth from his echo. Voicing the thoughts his little brother loathed to sign out. "Yes, so do you want to run that by me again?"
[It's silly.] He signed. The voice in his head provided more information. I have already sang in front of so many others before why is this one making me feel so nervous. It's stupid.
"It's not stupid. For one this is a stage, and a fancy one from what Nunuai is doing to it."
They both looked back out to the Lalafell. Their shard sister was busy charging crystals around the stage. Each one she crafted specifically for a special effect when she hit it with aether. Masa know some of them will summon some minor voidsents they have befriended, some of them will shoot out beams of light and a few that will spew low fog out. But the rest was a mystery. And judging by the glint in Nunuai's eyes, they will never get an answer out of her.
"Just... Maybe just sign it out?" Odori offered. Masa tilted his head to the side. "I mean its probably easier to work out what's upsetting you if you just... word it out?"
Masa just narrowed his eyes. [You can't keep up when I start to sign-rant.]
Odori gestured to his eyes again. "Echo on and also I can learn fast."
The Viera huffed, he looked back towards the stage. Mirthgar have finished instructing the guards around the venue and have lifted Nunuai up by the scruff. Telling the Lalafell something that made her pout. Only a few minutes left till showtime. He swallowed thickly and turned back to Odori and begin to sign.
[I guess this feels different because Ser Aymeric was the one requesting it?] He looked at his brother, who only gestured for him to continue. So he did.
[Do you think they will like it?] He signed nervously. [This is very different from what I usually sing for them.] Did I even sing it right? The singer was very aggressive and loud. Did I hit the note right? I really want to do the song justice.
Odori said nothing. Just watching carefully at all the disembodied mouth floating around his brother's head. Whispering and hissing thoughts that the Viera does not sign out. Masa continued on.
[This is Ishgard's first All Saint's Wake in a century!] I don't want to ruin it for them. Or even for my flight! [I don't want to give them the wrong impression!] I don't want to scare the children either!
"Masa." Odori said quietly, but the Viera did not hear.
[My scars are scary.] They hated my scales. [Some of the lords and ladies are pretty old they might not like this-] Oh fucking shit, my dragon dads are going to come. I'm going to fuck up somewhere! Oh no oh no oh no!
"Masa." The Au Ra said more firmly as he watched the mouth becoming sharpened and more aggressive. Close enough to Masa to bite. He stopped signing his words and his fingers started to dig into his palm.
Oh no I am going to ruin the holiday. Might even scare them back to war again. No no no I don't want that. They finally going to fly free. What do I do? I am going to make everything bad again. I should leave. I need to get away! I need to-
"Masa!" Odori whisper shouted and grabbed Masa's hand. Holding it tight and away from each other. The words continued on circling, overlapping each other to garbled mess, tearing into the Viera. "Calm down. Take a deep breath."
Masa blinked, when did he started hyperventilating? Unfortunately, recognising it and fixing it are two separate things. He tried to hold the breath in longer, but he end up just gasping and coughing.
Gently Odori placed one of Masa's hand on his chest. He murmured, "Too shallow. Try again. Try to match mine."
Masa swallowed, trying to focus on the rhythmic rise and fall underneath his palm. Holding in and letting out in time. Eventually he could feel his breath even out again. He let out a long sigh before flopping forward. Almost crashing into Odori's chest. His brother caught him in time and pulled him into a proper hug. Been very careful with the makeup because if its smudged, Nunuai will be screaming her head off at them.
After a while, Odori muttered, "Geez you suck at breathing. Try again."
Masa kicked his shin. It doesn't hurt either of them - thanks Au Ra scales.
Odori just chuckled. "Welcome back. Now let me debunk everything one by one."
He kicked a nearby crate over to the floor. There was a disturbing cracking sound from it, but Odori ignored it - as well as ignoring the panic that Masa has at the sound - and dragged the Viera over to sit.
"You have already practiced this song for a full moon now. You sounded fine. Not to mention no one could tell what it suppose to sound like because that fucking dimension hopping Miq'ote just decide to drop the crystal with the music in the tent with zero explanation."
It was one of the more unexplainable appearance as well. Usually whenever the white Miq'ote appear, they get whisked away to some alternate dimension to help some other warrior of light in their journey through Eorzea. This time he just grinned, throw the crystal with the music video embedded in there and just vanished.
"Next! There is no way you can ruin a holiday just by yourself. Especially if Nunuai didn't set any one on fire." He points to the Lalafell on the stage, already having her staff out. Orange flame danced merrily around her.
Masa's mouth pressed into a thin line. [Please don't tempt fate.] He signed. Odori just shrugged.
It's not their job to stop her trying to incinerate the egg thieves.
"Your dragon dads - if what you have describe to me was accurate - will not give a shit if you miss a note or not. And also your dragon brother is one of the musicians." He jerked a thumb towards a towering dragon on the stage. He strummed a large guitar-like instrument with his claws and was chatting to a small Elezen child with lime green hair and several nervous musicians. Not surprising considering he is the twice the height of the tallest knight in the area. And he is still not a full adult dragon.
Yet those musicians stay put, some brave enough to enter into the conversation.
"I think at this point Ishgard has integrated the dragons into their life pretty deeply don't you think? What's a few scar and scales going to do?" Odori gestured to his own scales.
Both of their costumes have a lot of exposed bits, highlighting the Au Ra scales. Nunuai was tempted to add some gold glitter on to the scale to make it stand out further and only talked out of it by Mirthgar reminding her that it takes time to wash it out. So she settled with giving Masa extra accessories instead. Like fake horns to better match Odori. Multitude of black and orange ribbons because its Masa's favourite accessories. Not to mention many clusters of orange roses because Masa without a flower somewhere on him felt off.
According to the girls anyway.
Odori sighed. "Nothing will happen that will wreck it beyond repair. Is it going to be perfect? I doubt it. But nothing is going to fail completely."
Masa felt better. Relatively.
Still. There was just that nagging feeling in the back of his mind that something will go wrong. A feeling that just refused to go away. Masa just sighed and flopped on to his brother.
Stupid silly brain.
Odori patted him. That wasn't a foreign feeling. He remembered he was the same the first time he was asked to stand on the Thavnairian stage. "Do you want me to get our sisters up the stage with you?" he asked.
Masa looked up at him, puzzled.
"They will go up and be with you if it makes you feel better."
We would.
A soft voice came in the back of his head. He turned to see Mirthgar making eye contact in the distance. Her echo a soft tug in the back of his mind.
Masa shook his head. He can handle it. He doesn't want to add more work to his sisters right now. They already spent a lot of their free time making the costumes and now they are in charge of special effects and safety. If worse come to worse he could summon his fairy to calm himself down. The Hrothgar look sceptical, but turned around. One last soft tug in the mind, a reminder that they will be around and it will be okay.
Odori huffed. Feeling a separate tug from Mirthgar. A check in as well. He returned the tug and a promise to keep an eye on their youngest shard sibling. "If you are sure." He said simply and look back out on the stage.
It was time.
"I don't know if this helps. But when I first went up the stage..." Odori sighed as Masa whipped his head up. Eyes already glittering with curiosity. The Au Ra could only sigh. Hopefully a brief explanation could get Masa to refocus. "One of the backup dancer was sick and my growth spurt didn't kick in yet so my mums just told the organiser that I can dance so I landed on the stage- not important right now."
He ignored the pouting eyes, they don't really have time for stories right now. The curtain was about to rise. Odori curled his tail around Masa's wrist.
"Just focus on me. And what I am doing." He tightened the hold. "Pretend we are back home on the beach. You are singing and I am dancing to it."
Something they do practically every night after dinner. It was just so natural as Masa sings whatever song that came to his mind. And if the tune was good for a dance, Odori will moved to it. Occasionally Nunuai and Mirthgar will join and the fun increases. It didn't matter that sometime Mirthgar and Masa missed a step and trip. No one cared if Nunuai and Odori went off key or sang the wrong words.
It was just fun.
"Eventually the crowd will just... Fade. You won't notice them anymore."
Masa nodded. He will give it a try. Carefully he smoothed out his costume and tried to stand up straight.
"Let's go." Odori said and walked up stage. His tail gently tugging Masa forward. Only letting go to get to centre of the stage. Masa walked a little to the side where the microphone was bolted on to the stand.
He gulped as he watched the crowd gather in front of him. Children ran in to the front past the fenced off area to keep everyone somewhat separated enough to avoid trampling if they needed to move. Dragons of all shape and sizes landed on the various constructed platforms around the area. Two particularly large ones landed on the platform closest to the stage and off the cliff.
Nezhnyy waved at his adopted son enthusiastically while his mate Svarka just settle down properly on the platform. Masa waved back shyly at his dragon dads. He could see the rest of the flight also landed on the same platform or the empty ones around it.
Ser Aymeric was spotted near the back of the main audience, along with the other dignitaries from surrounding nations. And is that Hein among them?! And of course all the scions are with them. Mirthgar standing with them. This was a lot more people he recognised than he was told before. Masa could feel the muscles in his throat tighten.
Soon the lantern lights around the stage dimmed and the crystals letting out beamed lights. Nunuai waved her staff and made fogs roll across the stage.
Masa took a deep breath and sang those first words.
Nah-nah, nah-nah-nah
Ready for my show!
Okay, たちまち独壇場
Listen, listen!
He dared a peek at the crowd. Some of the lords and ladies seemed to be whispering and his chest tighten for a bit. Then he felt her tug once more. He looked back to the stands to see the Hrothgar smiling at him.
Looking good! Go on!
So he continued.
Nah-nah, nah-nah-nah
Ready for my show!
傾け
Diotavoror shred through the notes. He remember his dragon brother loving the string instruments. When he found out how fast the tempo of this song is, he played it non-stop for many bells. Almost drove the others to rage and trying to remove his instruments.
Odori started to move. Dancing to in jerky movement to the sharp rapid strums. A wide grin on his face. Masa smiled at the sight. He heard small puff come up from behind him. Small imps summoned to be his back up vocals.
振り切ろう! Freak it loud! (TeddyLoid) (Giga)
Masa glanced to the side to see Nunuai giving him a thumbs up. He has to stop himself from laughing out loud. Instead he put that energy into the song.
Ha! ヤーヤーヤーヤーヤー 唱タイム !
天辺の御成り ほらおいで
宵をコンプリート オーライ hell yeah, yeah, yeah
だんだんノリノリで超簡単 brah, brah, brah! Pow
えも言われない ain't nobody stop (Ha, ha)
He surged forward, grasping the microphone with both hand. The crystals blasting out the music in time with the light. More pops happen behind him as more humanoid voidsents burst into existence. Marching behind Odori in rhythm. They are his back up dancers.
Oh, 全土絢爛豪華
Attention 騒ごうか
意思表示にもうじき衝撃の声高らか堂々登板
もう伽監洞は疾っくの疾う淘汰
Ay, 繚乱桜花 御出座しだ ah
Disembodied hand appeared behind him, clapping to the beat. Masa smoothed out his breath.
格好つけてるつもりは no, no
オートマティックに溢れちゃう本能
宣う断頭台の上で 燥げ華麗
Da-rat-a-tat-a, warning!
He twirled around the mic. Feeling a little restricted to the spot. While Odori was allowed to dance throughout the whole stage. He wanted to move- No. He needed to move.
Nah-nah, nah-nah-nah
Ready for my show!
バンザイ 遊ぶ気に寿
Shout it out, shout it out
Nah-nah, nah-nah-nah
Ready for my show
はんなり 感情通りに八艘飛び
Shout it out! Shout it out! (Ooh)
A sentiment shared by the children near the front. Jumping up and down with the music. Some have attempted to mimic Odori's movement. Even the dragonlings are in to it! Flying up to dance in the air to the tempo.
(Hey, uh) 食らっちゃいな
(Hey, ha) Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat (Pull up)
Hey uh, wa-wa-wa
満開 総員一気にとびきり jump around!
Round! Round!
He grinned wide seeing Odori danced perfectly. Masa pulled on the mic, jumping to the beat. Then pressing the mic close to his mouth.
Look at me now
皮膚を破りそうな程に跳ねる心臓
くらい激情的仕様 (Exotic vox)
イニミニマニモ
ご来場からのご来光
かくれんぼしてるその気持ち解放
( 理性アディオス )
しゃかりきじみちゃう (Ay, ay, ay)
He snapped the microphone off the stand and stepped in tandem with the music. This is his favourite part of the song!
蛇腹刃蛇尾 騙る二枚刃
野心家 嫉妬するようなジュース
たぶらかすな かっとなっちゃ嫌
カルマに至る前に揺蕩うわ
蛇腹刃蛇尾 騙る二枚刃
野心家 嫉妬するようなジュース
たぶらかすな かっとなっちゃ嫌
十色のバタフライ
(No escape)
He felt Odori came to him with a twirl and offered his hand. Masa didn't hesitate to take it and let his brother pulled him for a small twirl for the song's bridge.
ご存じの通り 騒々しい鼓動に
絆されてもう止まれない
衝動に塗装し描いた daybreak
肺貫通低音狂
Masa let go of the hand and let Odori's tail catch him instead. All the while the voidsents behind them repeat the previous dance again.
Na-na, na-na-na
Ready for my show
異例の危険度 比類なき活気充満
Na-na, na-na-na
Ready for my show
いちかばちか 鳴呼
He screamed the last one out and commit himself to the dance. He already know the moves. He had watched Odori practice and he could mimic them well enough. None of it was what it was rehearsed but he didn't care.
Nah-nah, nah-nah-nah
Ready for my show!
バンザイ 遊ぶ気に寿
Shout it out! Shout it out!
Na-na, na-na-na
Ready for my show
喝采巻き起こすために stay
一切合切忘れて shout it out!
Letting the microphone go. He continue to dance. It surprised him briefly that the microphone's little bat wings started to flap and fly close to him.
Ay, woah-oh-oh-oh
右に左 まとめて rat-a-tat-a-tat (Pull up)
思いっ切り一気に (Clap, clap, clap)
なにはともあれ ご唱和あれ
Shout it out! Shout it out!
As soon as the music stopped. There was a long beat of silence. Masa breathed heavily. He half regretted singing and dancing, because its difficult to get his breathe right for the notes and enough for the fast movements. However the other half of him couldn't give a shit. This was too much fun!
Then all of a sudden a roar of applause assaulted Masa's ears.
It was as if the veil that he didn't notice was pulled down. He saw the crowd cheering and clapping. There were some sounds that sounded suspiciously like wolf whistles. Masa turned to the side and could see all the dragons chirping and roaring. Happy. Near the back for the more formal group, they gave him a standing ovations. He wondered who gave Alisaie and G'raha light sticks. The children were still dancing, so are the voidsents who all twirl and dance to the lingering lights and sparkles on the stage.
He was so stunned with the reactions. He didn't notice Odori walking towards him. Masa almost froze completely as his brother lifted him up on to his shoulder. "See? Everything is good." He murmured, observing the crowd. A cry for encore begin to ring out among the masses.
Masa looked around. Smiling at the excited and happy face everywhere. He leaned down to the horns and whispered. "Thank you."
Odori just hummed. "Up for another round?"
The Viera grinned wide. He looked towards his sisters. Nunuai gave a double thumbs up. Mirthgar just softly tugged.
This is the best All Saint's Wake ever!
