fight for the things that crack light into your life

MELITA

Rather than stick to the bonfires and beaches, Melita sequestered them closer to the tranquil Miana Pool; boasting its edges with an array of colorful lanterns she’d managed to snag and sort through, impressed with the array of hues brought to flame. Placing them along the water’s edge, amidst the endless evening, at least left a serene aspect rather than the restless toils curled under her pulse like a sleeping lion; ready to snap and claw at the slightest provocation.

Half-tempted as she was to mire away at current matters, the reality was that she couldn’t do anything about the situation at hand until LongNight was over. There’d be no calling to Safrin amongst the dirges, and she wouldn’t be able to find Ludo until then. No use in scrambling through undergrowth or clambering on edges of potential – so her attention was occupied by Iskra, as it probably should’ve been all along.

Laid across the massive towel in her Ludo-embossed bikini, swinging her legs back and forth, she aimed to relish the twilight and him, salty breeze clambering over and around, waiting for him to settle before she rolled over to her bag. Fangorn grumbled out of the way, and she tossed him and Sila (on guard, perched upon a favored, flattened rock) a treat before she started to unfurl any manner of mischief towards Halovian reaches. “I got you something~,” she sing-songed, leaving it to his curiosity as she began pulling fabric out of the tote.

This is a gift, it comes with a price
Who is the lamb and who is the knife?
Midas is king and he holds me so tight
And turns me to gold in the sunlight

Iskra

More than content to leave the revelry behind, Longnight still young (he thinks, it's hard to keep track hoenstly), he follows her without hesitation. He is here for her after all, and as exciting as Encantado fire-hoop jumping is, nothing tops just idling away the hours in her company.

As the towel settles over the sand and the side of the pool, Iskra crouches down to help straighten out the ends closest to him, brushing away any errant grains. When she sprawls out, he slides in beside her, facing the same direction but on his stomach, head turned towards her with a pleased sigh when the ground finally takes all his weight. "This is nice," he admits, the pair of them cast in the varying glow of the lanterns, the hushed sound of the pool lapping the sides of the shore drifting over the dark and the calm of the longnight.

It isn't long before she's already shifting, rolling away from him with an absence that immediately rouses a guttural complaint. Propping himself up more on his elbows, he cranes to see around her and what she's fishing out, dreadfully curious, especially when she claims it's for him. "What do you mean?!" he demands, a trill of alarm there, worried perhaps he's forgotten an important date and far too empty handed to reciprocate.

I can see the sunshine for the first time in a while
It's like I've been baptized by the warmth of your smile

MELITA

“I thought we could go swimming, but y’know, not be run over,” for as delightful and entertaining as the dolphin launching through fire parties were, it made for a greater difficulty of accomplishing other means. She had a few tricks up her sleeve there too, but she’d wait, still humming under her breath as she purposefully made slow work of opening her bag.

His alarm was all she needed to incite and inspire a laugh, tucking herself lower so he couldn’t see much over the expanse of her shoulders. “What do you think I mean? I got you a present.” In the back of her mind, there didn’t need to be any inciting reason (even if there had been, and it was in some part to spite Kaisel), other than spoiling him. “Kaisel said I probably wouldn’t be able to get these, and he was wrooooong~,” ended on another tune that carried no melodic frames whatsoever, before pulling out the fabric.

The same board shorts the Accepted had bragged about had been found, and extorted by yours truly, were unfurled before Iskra’s eyes. Black at the top before they faded into a nearly gilded ombre effect with honeycomb detailing, the Honeybee was clearly spelled out in small text. “And there’s more!” Because she’d bullied the worker. Turning back, she grabbed hold of another bundle, snagging at a matching sweatshirt with bees along the sleeves, before handing them all over for his inspection and perusal.

This is a gift, it comes with a price
Who is the lamb and who is the knife?
Midas is king and he holds me so tight
And turns me to gold in the sunlight