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Lylli
Chapter 8
Jason handed out the papers, and we all found something to put beneath them. When we found something to draw with, we got to sketching.
Neil was the first to present her piece to Jason. It was a gorgeous dusky purple gown that tapered downwards, tied up with a belt that looked like it could be made into a torniquet if needed.
Os and Michael were whispering about something in the corner; Mic was dictating something, while Os scribbled it furiously onto the paper.
Ash was the next to finish. She presented us with a beautiful and whimsical patched skirt and light brown flowy top duo. The skirt had different tones of brown, orange, and purple.
Luna was next to be done. She timidly showed off a dress that appeared to be to be covered in a whole galaxy of stars and constellations.
Halley showed us hers. Her pride was enough to be shared in three and still be as much as Ash, Neil, and Luna put together. Her outfit was a dress the color of dried hay. It had all the layers that a dress could manage and even a few more.
Os and Mic took quite some more time after the others had been done for quite some time. After a moment of silence from their corner, Michael shouted:
“The great Artiste is done!” as he waved around the drawings, Oscar had done.
Oscars was a traditional dark grey waist coat, embroidered with flowers and fruits, paired with pants of the same tone.
Michaels was a navy waistcoat overtop of a flowy cream white shirt, paired with a pair of brown pants.
Mine was a skirt and shirt combination, embellished with a corset, skirts on top of the longest one and a flowy sleeved top.
Jasons was an outfit of someone that could herd horses. A big hat, sharp tipped boots, and a silver jacket. His belt had a holster with a silver revolver strapped to it.
. . .
The next few weeks were a blur of running around town, going to stores, and seamstresses.
I found my main elements quite quickly- the corset, a frenzy of red and black, and the skirt, a deep dark red.
Luna slept through most appointments, unlike Os and Ash who were strangely invested in everyones choices.
“Hm, don’t you think that you need a warmer tone for that? Colds don’t suit you that well.”
“No, they fit her! The cold tones bring out her eyes.”
Os and Ash kept bickering like small children.
When we finally got out of the boutique, everyone except Luna had something to carry, only because Michael had takes her bags when he saw her struggling.
Me and Jason popped by the market to get some ingredients for the week’s meals.
When we stepped into the house, we saw Luna running after Halley who was holding one of her books.
“Hey give that back!!” She shouted, jumping over the banister and blocking Halley who threw the book to Michael, who threw it to me on accident.
“Ah shit, Michael! Do you have a bread crumb for brains?” Halley scolded jokingly.
I handed the book back to Luna and ruffled her hair. She stuck her tongue out at me.
“Do i need to scold them or what usually is the process for things like this?”
“No one is bleeding or crying, Luna is herself, no furniture has been broken, and the house isn’t on fire so no need for scolding. Just letting them sort themselves out and keep off extensive sugar.” I talked him through the process as we walked to the kitchen and put the food away.
"So if nothing is broken or dead, everything's okay kind of view?"
"Yeah, kind of. Unless someone comes and tells you that they are sad because of someone else, that is when you’ve fucked up.”
“Is there any way other than asking them if they’re hurt to know that? Or is it just one of those things that you learn to sense?"
"It's just a thing that you learn to sense."
Oscar popped his head into the doorway of the kitchen and said:
“Hey Ly, what’s for dinner, we’re hungry?”
“Pasta. There’s fruit on the dining table, eat that.”
“It’s out. I blame Hal. And pasta with what protein?”
“Then go out and buy some more. It’s with chicken, and don’t go blaming Hal, she’s just a kid.”
“We don’t have money.”
“I’ll give you some. Take someone with you.” Jason added, searching his pocket for a handful of coins.
As it turned out, taking someone with him meant taking everyone with him. And when i say everyone, I mean Everyone. He opened a window and shouted at a small group of teens and children: “Hey! Do you want to come buy fruit with us? We’ll buy you ice cream!” One of the kids has given him a thumbs up and walked towards the street.
“Jason.”
“Yeah kiddo?”
“Do you know what the celebration is like? I’m just trying to plan a plan c for getaway options, being around that many people could get unsavoury, you know how it goes.”
“Of course, kid! There’ll be music, vendors, handmade trinkets, dancing, food, usual celebration stuff.”
“Are there any dances we should learn? Different cultures and all.”
“No, i don’t think so. It’s Rhonian dances, ya know, they helped a lot, so, in some way at least, it’s your day as well!”
I lightly hugged his side, pressing my head into his shoulder.
“Thanks, Jason.” I muttered as he kept chopping.
“Hey, Lylli,” he called as I was walking out of the kitchen “Its not for a getaway, is it? You are aware that we’re all human and being anxious is just another emotion, right?” He asked, the lightest tinge of worry tainting his every word.
“Yeah, I know, still got half a foot on the ship though.”
He nodded in agreement as i went upstairs, and got started on readying my clothes and accesories for the celebration.
The others arrived with the usual chaos of door banging shut and laughter. Michael appered into my room after a few moments, throwing himself onto the bed and rambing about how it had gone
“- and then we saw the neighbour kids, they somehow climbed Os like a tree, it was so funny! Ash clicked with them alarmingly fast, like very fast. We’re talking two sentences.”
“yep, that’s Ash for you.” Oscar said, walking into the room, sitting next to Michael and planting a kiss on his head.
“SO I WAS RIGHT!!” I shouted pointing a finger at them. “Anyway. I take it that the backround check is first on the to do list after tomorrow?”
“No need, military affiliations, scoot over.” Ash said waving a had at the boys.
“And where did you find that out from?” Oscar asked
“Jason. And before you go saying that he isn’t trust worthy, he took us in and plus, it was written in an old book, before the libiration movement, we’re fine.”
“Whatever you say sparky.” He said, shaking his head.
Jason called from downstairs: “Dinner, everyone eats, no exceptions!”
The rest of the evening was quite boring so I will spare you the details.
We all brushed our teeth, met in the livingroom to put a plan together for the next day — wake up at 7, breakfeast at 8, out of the door by 10, back by 9pm, no drugs, no alcohol, check in spots and times every one and a half hours. Everyone has a partner and sticks by them.
. . .
In the morning everything worked out perfectly--
We woke up on time, got dressed and helped the others prefect their looks.
We made our way to the town square where the festival was being held. We all had on our fanciest clothes.
On our way there we passed a lot of tourists and travellers. They were quite rowdy which really annoyed me. If you go to another country, or even a city where the culture is quite a lot different, then you should learn the social norms and customs. Good gods!
When we got to the city square, I was in awe at how well it was decorated. It looked magical. There were posts set up around a centre post, the outer layer creating a hexagon. There was cloth of all spring colours slung across the posts, drooping down in the middle.
There were flower petals cascading through the air and the moment they touched the ground they slowly disappeared, letting only a few petals remain on the cobblestones. I racked my brain for an explanation for how it worked and settled on holograms. Though unusual, but possible.
The whole festival was centered around a stage. The little shops ran below the cloths that draped down. The shop windows were lined in fabrics that sparkled lightly in the sunlight.
Most people were selling little trinkets or food, but from time to time there also were handmade bows and quivers full of sturdy arrows which were colour coded to match the detailing on the bows and the string.
Others sold jewellery and crowns made to be copies of the royal crowns. Some covered in Asgnian designs and references, others in local Rhonian stones and jewels, the metal stained lightly green to represent the high military population and the volume of nature that engulfed the island.
There were loads of people and children running and bustling about, all dressed in their family colors or to match their partners or family. It was hard to stand out but two girls still managed to do that.
They had the same facial structure, but different hair both in length, style, and color.
The older one was dressed in brown and yellow, the patterns of her skirt and blouse so coherent to the point where they seemed made for each other.
The younger one had short brown hair with little blue stripes through it. She was wearing an iridescent green skirt with a ruffled beige shirt and green jewelry. They both wore brown boots.
They were arguing about something while the younger one was eating some pancakes.
I caught her eye and she, quite strangely, winked at me, then she burst into laughter. When her sister asked what she was laughing at, she spoke in what seemed like another language and when she was done her sister rolled her eyes, smirking.
And then she did something strange. She waved at me. Of course, I waved back, now when i think back on it, I have zero idea why I did so. Then it escalated. She blew me a kiss. At the sight of the gesture, I felt all the blood rise up to my face and her sister smacked her arm hard enough for her to complain. At my sudden redness Michael asked:
“Hey Ly, why are you so red?”
“Some girl was flirting with me.”
At that, his face lit up. He stepped closer to me and asked in a hushed tone “who, where”
I pointed him to the sisters. He grabbed my arm and started dragging me over there. The sisters had already turned away, but in his eyes that didn’t pose any problems. He tapped the older one on the shoulder and started talking “Good day Ladies. I noticed one of you flirting with my friend over here and wanted to make you acquaintance. I’m Michael and this is Lylliana.” I smacked his hand and corrected him
“I’m sorry for his bluntness. I’m Ly” I said sticking out my hand, waiting for her to shake it.
“I’m Jes. Nice to meet you.” But to my surprise, and horror, she lifted it to her face and kissed the back of my hand. “May I ask the Lady for a dance?” She asked, looking expectantly between me and Mic. I was as flustered as ever. Michael on the other hand seemed as delighted as physically possible
“Of course! She’d be delighted to!”
Jes looked at me expectantly. I gave her a little smile and took her stretched out hand as she started guiding me to the dance floor with a few older couples.
“Don’t you find it risky to dance with a woman in such a traditional environment? Aren’t you afraid of getting beaten to a pulp on your way home?”
“We could be or we could give others the strength to join us, helping unite the community as a whole.”
We made our way onto the middle of the dance floor.
As the music started so did the whispers. They were staring and pointing at us some even laughing.
“Hey, no need to get self conscious. They are just jealous of your looks and of what a good dancer you are. No need to worry.” She murmured, grinning at me like a fox.
Those words calmed me down a bit.
I noticed the others standing at the edge of the dance floor looking at me cheering me on.
I peeled my eyes off of them and onto her.
Her hair was shorter on the sides and longer on the top, a piece was even longer and sitting on her face dyed almost fully green. The green of moss growing on the rocks on my way to base.
“Could you quit staring at my hair? Its making me quite nervous for some reason.”
I let my eyes glide down to her face, full of worry with a bit of admiration. When my eyes hit hers a small smile appeared, playing on her lips. Then she looked past me and it was gone.
“What’s wrong?”
“Two guys are coming here. They look scary as hell.” After a tense moment she started laughing “looks like we gave someone the strength to be themselves. He just wanted to dance with his boyfriend.” She lifted a hand from my waist and waved to them. They waved right back.
When the music ended they headed over and both asked one of us for a dance. At that point there were more unusual couples than ‘proper’ ones.
I ended up dancing with a guy called Thomas. He had blond hair than light blue eyes.
He was an amazing dancer. He told me that he and his boyfriend, Scar, had met at a café when he messed Thomas’ order up.
That was the point where things started going wrong. Somebody shouted “Abominations!” from the crowd. From the other side another man shouted, “Shut up, you’re just jealous!”
“FUCK OFF ASGNIAT” sounded from somewhere on the crowd. The people turned towards the sound, even the music stopped.
“Hey, let's not do that. No discrimination. For no one.” Said a booming voice over some system. I flinched hard.
“You good?” Thomas asked
“Where did that voice come from?”
“Oh, it’s just the god of parties, Jashan. He runs these types of festivals. He is also the only god who doesn’t have many versions, because all that have enough free time and spirit to have been to one of these events, knows what he is like.”
“Wait, a god? Like an actual one, not just one who is promised godhood?”
“Yeah, he is a god, not just some guy.”
“Oh, alright, sorry. Just, where I'm from, they sometimes call people who show great promise gods, even though they aren’t one and they have been told to stop calling people that.”
“Oh, yeah, they are wild for that. Especially if they got told off by the gods and they still kept doing that, that's just crazy.”