[Action Thread]

[shade_mod]

Who: Everyone and anyone
What: The midnight fireworks display
When: Midnight
Where: Konoha square
Warnings: TBA

Comments

[not_sympathetic]

The warm weather made the night even more pleasant than it already was; Ino loved to watch parents, grandparents, and children having such a good time watching the beautiful display. Everyone was giving off an aura of happiness, contentedness, and warmth. She had her camera slung around her neck, hanging against the front of her dark blue yukata. She felt like a kid again with her light robes decked out with large, cheerful sunflowers and a multitude of sparklers in her hand. Some of the children had brought them out for her to light and she happily did so. They were so cute and innocent, round eyed and giggling at the lights. Their parents either looked on with amusement or were sharing an embrace with their significant others and watching the sky

HERE I ARE.

[silkcranes]

Neji understood fireworks.

It was difficult not to when he had been connected so oddly with an angel bearing the same name, but even so--it was his first time seeing them. He'd let Tenten go a few hours before (disappeared from her, really; he didn't think she would have let him leave, but he knew she probably wanted some time on her own, anyway) and had been wandering around the booths like a silent ghost until a perfect flower of light had burst in the dark sky.

He stopped and thought that perhaps something had changed in the universe. This wasn't, after all, the way stars died. They did not explode so colorfully.

It took him a few moments to realize that they weren't stars, and to fully examine exactly what was happening in the scene. His eyes could see enough of what the real mechanics behind the display were, and despite knowing, he still found it oddly entrancing.

A golden flower burst in the sky, highlighting the gold in the yukata Tenten had given him and lighting a path through a square. His feet seemed to be

:D

[not_sympathetic]

"Oh!" Ino nearly jumped in surprise when a deep male voice reached her ears. When she turned around and was greeted with an equally attractive male face, she was more than willing to share her sparklers. "Of course! Here," she handed over one of the sparklers carefully, trying not to get it caught on either of their sleeves. Usually men weren't really interested in watching the sparklers-- he was definitely marching to the beat of a different drum.

Wow, what could be better than standing and watching fireworks with a good looking guy? Maybe if she had some shaved ice... oh yes, that would make it perfect.

"Isn't the sky nice? I love fireworks."

[exiled_light]

Naruto had attended his first Hanami festival at least two hundred years ago. Most times he thought the festival was very beautiful, but also a little bit boring. The good things about seeing the festival in this time of age was that humans loved to make things bigger and more lavish each year

[solitary_bind]

Shikamaru looked up to the sky, dark eyes wondering over the bright lights. Why were fireworks so blasted loud? He twitched, and shook his head trying to adjust his ears to the high volumes. His hair rather flat, save a few short flyaway pieces in his face from the slight breeze that came in and out. His attire was usually almost the same, and within his favorite Chinese flavor. Today was casual, but it held it's elegance. That white fabric draped over him, fitting his slender figure nicely. His eyes lingered longer looking for a familiar face. He all but groaned when he saw the blonde bombshell accompanied by the loudest angel on the planet. And Neji? Since when did Neiji show up for such earthly functions? He walked slowley, his eyes being drawn to the same blonde girl that seemed to capture his attention. He attempted to ignore.

[not_sympathetic]

Chalk another one up to coincidence or fate or maybe that the three of them had agreed to meet up? It was so sweet to see Naruto enjoying himself so much and even though Neji seemed quiet and serious even he had cracked a smile. She was really happy, genuinely happy for the first time in a while. There was no reason to worry about anything-- all serious thought flew out of her head. When she looked up from the two men, she instantly spotted Shikamaru's figure. They hadn't met in a while and she had been slightly concerned that he had disappeared as quickly as he appeared.

"Hey, Shikamaru! Long time no see!" Ino called and waved cheerfully. "Come over here!"

Shikamaru didn't seem much for festivals but maybe he was trying to loosen up? He seemed tense, though, so maybe that wasn't the case.

[solitary_bind]

He caught his breath as he heard that familiar ring to his ears. Truth be told he'd spent some time away after their last encounter at the coffee shop and her bad taste in men. Though he couldn't say that the experience had been so bad for him. It had been rather pleasant, only....it didn't do so well to his angel psyche. The weight on his back was forever getting heavier. However, one look in her direction and one half smile later she'd made it disappear. For the time being.

He walked over slowly, keeping up with his nonchalant attitude.

[not_sympathetic]

"Where have you been lately?" she asked curiously. "Usually I see you around but you disappeared. I've only had Naruto here to keep me entertained," Ino jabbed her thumb in the other blond's direction, voice light and teasing. "Have you been okay?" Truly, she was concerned because he was a nice guy who seemed to have constant shadows looming over him. Just... mysterious. And kind of weird. And hung out with people like Naruto and Neji.

His expression, as careful as he tried to make it, seemed strained to her. Shikamaru probably had something on his mind but maybe this festival could make him forget for a little.

[sallow_quietus]

Gaara had reluctantly joined the festivities. He sat on a roof with humans. It wasn't the tallest building around so fewer were here, but even one human was too many to him. Standing on the edge of the roof, he cleared a path with his glare until he could perch on the corner in relative peace.

Humans were too loud for something so fragile. Gaara paid little attention to the even louder voice pointing out some nearby human who had cheated death too many times. He pushed it to the back of his mind irritably. Tonight he was on a specific hunt.

[sheolic]

Well, might as well go in for the kill, so to speak

[sallow_quietus]

Gaara didn't jump. He was above being startled in such a lowly fashion. Instead, he glared. Who was this cocky demon to be so careless around the humans and sit beside him. Gaara remained unimpressed. Small brained people were not a threat unless they were gathered in large numbers. This was only one demon with a brain too small to see without one of those contraptions the frail inhabitants of Earth had come up with.

He didn't think him worth responding to. After a quick, reflexive glance Gaara looked back to the sky being lit by colorful explosions.

[wild_isthe_wind]

She'd left everything at the church but herself, and she was wondering if she'd regret it. The sky was full of red and greens and blues, bright lights that reminded her of wars. Angels were always being asked to guard people during battle, so she'd seen her share of wars. Not to discount, of course, the Great War, and no, not the one with the trenches.

There were a lot of people here, she noted, pulling her jacket up tighter against her. And by people, she meant angels and demons. This was somewhat ridiculous. What were the chances? Was He being ineffable, again? Temari hated when he was ineffable.

She stood out in her general attire. Where the Hell would she have gotten a kimono? She hadn't even planned on attending until the last moment. She recognized the faces in the group, a few in particular. Temari decided to find herself a place apart from them to sit herself down and watch the war that was not a war.

She could say hi to Shikamaru later. And to Kankurou, never.

[solitary_bind]

Taking a seat on a soft patch of grass, Shikamaru took a break from the crowd. He felt claustrophobic and rather annoyed, though not sure why. The sky was rather....beautiful in this light. The last time he saw explosions this bright hadn't been in such a colorful favor. Taking a long drag from his cigarette he glanced up to the display in the sky.

[wild_isthe_wind]

Temari turned her head at the sudden proximity of this movement, and her mouth did this odd twisting thing when she realized who'd taken a seat beside her. Damn you and your ineffability. Damn you to Hell.

"Smoking, still?" she asked Shikamaru casually, pulling her knees up to her chest slowly. "There're better hobbies for an angel." The scent of it reached her slowly as the breeze brushed past them. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy the scent, it just gave off a bad image. Who would think this slouching man was an angel?

Then again...when was the last time angels went around harassing people at trainstops and refused to wear anything that even vaguely fit them? At least Shikamaru had taste.

Pft. Lord knew that she'd been absent on that particular day.

[solitary_bind]

His eyes didn't leave the sky as he proceeded to puff away the fresh ciagrette. He wasn't sure if it was the nicotine that was so appealing or the fact that it made him feel more at ease at what he'd become. What the world had become and what heaven was lacking here recently.

"Hobbies are meant to be enjoyable without someone butting in on it," he said calmly that ever present scowl across his features. The breeze was nice, and he felt maybe he'd allow the whether to stay clear for a little while longer, even if he wanted to drown out the trash that lingered in the crowd. Maybe this was why he didn't do this sort of thing. Festivals and shit.

Hand flick. Inhale. Exhale smoke. It was a rather boring concept, but something in the cloudy smoke was definately an addiction he wasn't willing to give up...just yet.

[wild_isthe_wind]

She watched the ashes sprinkle into the grass and get lost in the shadows that the night cast over everything near the ground. Was that necessary? No, not really.

"Show me the dictionary that says that and I'll shut up."

Temari looked up again briefly and frowned at the cloud of smoke floating like deadly clouds in the wind. It almost made her angry, the ashes in the grass and the smoke in the air. But she swallowed it all and her expression remained stony.

"And what are you doing here anyway? I thought the beach was your place of preference."