Work Text:
[The setting is like- my back porch, I dunno where else to put all these characters, Lol]
Today marked the Fourth of July, an American holiday and tradition celebrated in a variety of ways by numerous people living across the United States of America. Some people ate chips, cupcakes, cookies, and giant meals, while others set off fireworks, and more just cherished the time spent together as both friends and family.
Noztalgia tenderly offered Screech a short sparkler, “Be careful with this, okay? If you aren’t cautious, you could hurt yourself,” She reminded the young entity.
Screech nodded faintly, “Okay! Got it!” He replied eagerly.
Noztalgia glanced toward Aydonice, who was pecking a nonchalant Grimvoid’s neck affectionately.
”Yo! Aydonice! Can you light this sparkler for me??” Noztalgia called to the fiery shapeshifter.
Aydonice looked to the human, “Alright, alright, I’m coming…!”
He murmured a flirty whisper to his black-haired boyfriend before backflipping and landing beside Noztalgia. Aydonice pressed two fingers together and they ignited with a fwoo, before he leaned over and set the sparkler’s tip ablaze. Tiny embers emitted from mini firework’s point. Screech's glowing white eyes went wide in awe, and he grinned, giggling and racing off with the sparkler in hand.
Aydonice smiled surprisingly gently at the cute reaction from the child-like entity, "Look at him go, hah..."
Banban, Banbaleena, Jumbo Josh, Stinger Flynn, Nabnab, Nabnaleena, Bittergiggle, Sheriff Toadster, Kittysaurus, Syringeon, Sir Dadadoo, and Queen Bouncelia all sat amongst one another on couches, armchairs, and even the jester was perched on top of the table. Jumbo Josh had a handful of vegetables such as broccoli, celery, and carrots in one giant fist, crunching noisily. Banban was arguing with Stinger Flynn about whether they should continue their forsaken journey to the beach or not, and so far, Banban was winning by a landslide significantly. Nabnab and Nabnaleena was both chowing down on sugar-filled Eileen's Cookies because those were delicious. Bittergiggle chuckled at the scene of both spider-like Givanium creatures gobbling down the desserts. Sheriff Toadster, in his own armchair, crossed his arms, unamused, as he had more serious things to be doing.
Banbaleena smacked Sheriff Toadster's arm gently, "Quit being such a downer."
Sheriff Toadster only huffed stubbornly, "I could be doin' anythin' else right now, but instead this is where I get holed up..."
Banbaleena groaned in exasperation, "Tch, of course you ignore me."
Stinger Flynn raised a squid-ish tentacle, "I implore you, Banban, the beach shall be worth it."
Banban's devil tail lashed in irritation from its position on the couch, "Oh really? You say that all the time, Stinger! The beach isn't worth it!"
Stringer Flynn closed his eye momentarily like he was debating whether this argument as worth it or not, "...It is, I promise."
Banban flicked a few stray crumbs off his lap, "Doubt it."
Bittergiggle was telling jokes to his best friend, Kittysaurus, who occasionally snorted in amusement at the poor, but silly puns and jests. Syringeon and Sir Dadadoo were yapping to one another about experiments and other random things. One of Syringeon's tool hands was intertwined with the massive leech's clawed hands while they chatted. Queen Bouncelia was trying to learn more about Sword, who was wholeheartedly talking her leg off about the Crossroads and what it was like to live with Venomshank. The swordsman's white sparrow wings kept twitching at the mere mention of adventure and a new journey to take. Rocket, tilted against his passionate boyfriend, listened as best as he could with his hard hearing.
Medkit was attempting to eat healthy like Jumbo Josh, though clearly unsettled by the huge creature. Subspace, on the other hand, was as curious as a scientist like him could be, observing the large green experiment with a magnifying glass. Subspace's centipede tail wagged back and forth fast enough to be considered a dangerous hazard.
Medkit sighed heavily, "Subspace... Stop studying that thing. Leave it alone."
Subspace did everything but stop researching Jumbo Josh, unfortunately. The bright green gorilla-like beast slowly looked over to the hot pink-horned scientist, eyes following Subspace as he darted back and forth quickly, testing reaction timing, likely. Jumbo Josh ended up whacking Subspace aside and sending the scientist to the floor.
"Ow..." was all Subspace managed.
Medkit knelt down on his knees to check on Subspace, "Are you alright... Subby?"
The tips of Subspace's pointy ears tinted red as he heaved himself to his feet with help from the healer, "Yeah, just startled."
Ambush and Rush were intensely cramming raw steak into their mouths like their lives depended on it. Not many entities were blessed to have so much food in one sitting, after all. Ambush kept attempting to eat faster, probably making what should've been casual eating into some sort of competition.
Rush gaped at her in exasperation, "Ambush, slow down... This isn't a contest. You're going to choke or have a stomach ache later if you keep that up."
Ambush dismissively waved a clawed hand at Rush with her mouth still very much full of meat, "I'll be fine, Rush! I got the stomach of a BEAST."
Dupe and Snare were seated next to one another on the various couches on the background porch. Dupe was quietly dozing on the plant-like entity's shoulder, chest rising and falling steadily against Snare. Snare was browsing through his signature plant encyclopedia, whispering under his breath. Figure set adjacent to them, noise-canceling headphones placed around where his ears would've been, for safety reasons, likely. Amethyst Dragongem, was settled halfway on the wall because screw normal sitting positions and she's a shapeshifter so yeah this actually works. She occasionally peered over to her creator, Noztalgia, and excitedly offered a friendly wave.
Noztalgia happened to see the movement and waved back in return, smiling subtly at her child (child in the sense that I, the author, fabricated her and not literally). Skateboard and Coil were surveying the fireworks together, with Coil's dark gray wolf swishing in wonder every time a firework exploded in the sky into a burst of color.
Skateboard nodded in appreciation at the display, "Dude, this is actually super fire."
Coil barked an agreement, literally, "Sure is! I've never seen anything like it!"
Scythe had perching Broker on her shoulders like a dubious little imp. The shorter demon's eyes sparkled as his eyes followed the fireworks swirling into the air.
"Y'know, Brokes, this is real nice. Just bein' able ta chill and not have law 'forcement on our tails all the time... Ta just chill and enjoy company, ya know?" Scythe murmured to her close friend.
Broker grinned, "Agreed! It's nice to spend time with each other casually!"
Fireworks whizzed into the sky, and a particularly massive one crackled and detonated high in the air, eventually forming red, blue, and white letters to read:
"Happy fourth of July, and two hundred-fifty years of proudly being the United States of America!!"
Noztalgia's human eyes glittered, "Fireworks are amazing, aren't they?!"
Seek, who had been reclusive up until now, emerged from his hiding spot in the floor, "I suppose... they're alright. Humans can... do things, I guess."
Figure trudged over to join the human and goopy entity, noise-canceling headphones still on, "I may not be able to see it, but I believe humans have potential."
Screech united with the other two entities, "Woah! Look at the sky explosion-y things!"
Amethyst stood beside Noztalgia, "It's beautiful...!"
Noztalgia smirked, "It truly is. Not all humans are bad."
Amethyst wrapped an arm around her designer, "Never would've had it any other way."
Happy Fourth of July, everyone!