[Sasan]

They'd left the communal bonfire, the merriment growing too loud for what was supposed to be a solemn celebration. Sebastian ran around the gathering of trees doing what he did best, finding small twigs and kindling to raise a more private fire for the friends. Arryn and Katrine arranged the stones that Virgil had gathered while Lesallia spread out a blanket. Kaimid was making ‘artistic’ seats for them to sit on -- more like uncomfortable. Finding a flat and rot-free stump, Sasan beckoned Arryn over to join him.

Her cheeks colored a tinge of darker purple before graciously thanking him and taking his offered hand, sitting down gently. Furball came scampering over to paw at his leg while they waited. Turning his gaze toward the firepit, he noticed Sebastian fumbling with far too many branches, stacking the wood in a precarious steeple, only for his swishing tail to knock it all down.

[KAIMID 9001]

Kaimid looked up at the sound of falling wood. Sebastian was standing uncharacteristically still, his tongue bent over his lower lip in concentration as he tried yet again to stack the firewood. He made good attempt of it before his tail twitched, collapsing the entire pile.
He decided to question the rodent’s curious behavior.

“Squirrel-like mortal friend, why do you move in such a manner? Is there something you require assistance with?” In his usual way, Sebastian began chattering questions at him too quickly for Kaimid to respond.

Tilting his head to the side, he let his robotic eye do the work of understanding the whirl of wild gestures. Finally, he was able to deduce with 75% accuracy that the squirrel-child wanted help setting up and creating their new source of warmth. The remaining 25% argued this to be a meaningless 'quirk' in squirrelish behavior. Siding with probability, he attempted to help.

His first conclusion was that Sebastian's tail was the principle source of difficulty, and something would have to be done about it. He reached into his back pocket...

[Virgil Marks]

Hearing a squeal nearby, Virgil looked up from the hushed conversation he was having with Leslallia to see Kaimid tying a knot around Sebastian’s tail with a cord and binding it against his body. He then proceeded to arrange the firewood in a simple, functional pile and began to heat it with his eye-laser.

The job finished, Sebastian came over to join them on the blanket, bouncing and smiling at nothing. Noticing Lesallia's grimace, Virgil asked, “Is something wrong?”

Rolling her eyes, she nodded at the boy, muttering. “I don't think this blanket was made to seat three...” She made a point of shoving Sebastian toward the edge, not entirely playful about it.

Virgil smiled, happy to be able to share the night with his friends, even Sebastian.

[Katrine Dmitriev]

She could see the glint of other fires through the trees, dancing in the wind. Grinning she turned to Virgil, and saw him watching the night, looking at ease and elated. Katrine reached up to stroke the smooth plastic edge of her head phones. Closing her eyes, she saw herself dancing in front of a mirror, and her mother sneaking in, jostling her by the shoulders, hugging, and joining in the performance. Twin smiles and movements making merriment in the frosted glass. Moments like those were no more.

[Virgil Marks]

He'd abandoned his lantern, hung it on a low branch near to entrance to the clearing, trading it for the fire's warmth. He watched the others all settle into solemnity around the blaze, Kaimid stroking Furball, Leasallia, Ellysia, Katrine, all lost in thought, Arryn and Sasan together looking up to Toamna. And Sebastian stuffing his cheeks with an enormous cookie. Exactly how it should have been.

[Lesallia Surish]

It was an odd thing, friendship. To her it was tolerating the least annoying aspects of her fellow mortals, and here they were, gathered around the fire. This time, at least, they were in her presence in the proper attire. Smoothing her hands over her elaborate costume, she grinned.

Nox was beautiful. The warm colors brought out the best in the fashion world. Sure, it was for the dead, but in her opinion even the afterlife deserved a bit of flair. She watched the flame of her lantern as it swayed in her hand. She had not lost anyone. Her family was wealthy enough to keep in the best of health. Even still, the importance of this night was not lost on her.

The smell of her rival's hairspray kept her from delving deeper into her thoughts. "Ellysia,” she said with a playful sneer. "You should have saved some of that aerosol for the fire. I'm sure the souls need a bigger light into heaven." It gained her growl from the stylist.

[Ellysia]

Any other day, the jab would have been another punch she could have rolled with and served it back. The lantern was placed on the ground and her hands were neatly folded atop her chest. The only addition to her stoic facade was a trickle of tears that ran down her face. A youth in squalor and crime had taken most of what she knew. Her hair was the product of a better life, and she'd worked so hard on it for tonight.

She heard a halfhearted apology from Lesallia, and shortly found herself wrapped in Yutri arms.

[Arryn]

"It's all right, Elly, just let it out."

She got a muffled groan for her trouble. "Thank you Arryn, but your shoulder isn't very comfortable." She watched as Ellysia used the edges of her hands carefully-maintained hands to wipe away the tears. "We have work to do as well,” the woman continued. “Who brought the candles?"

Bouncing back a little she offered them all a luscious smile. "Candles?!” She pulled one out from her pocket, then slowly and with a deepening smirk she pulled out yet another one from the center of her chest. Giggling, the one candle quickly became three and as she moved her fingers more magically appeared until she had enough for the group. "Tadah," she said as she fanned them in front of her bosom. It was hard to tell what Ellysia was thinking, and it didn't matter what Leasallia thought. Sasan, however... locking eyes with the man only made her face turn a deeper shade of lavender.

"Thank you, thank you.” Sashaying, she went to offer a candle to each of them.

When it came to Sasan, she was not able to hold his eyes for very long.

“Thanks,” he said with a smile as he accepted the candle.

Pushing the fringe of her hair from her face, she smiled in return. "Humor helps heal faster than time,” she tried to explain. “And I think Elly needs to smile more. Personally, I'm a fan of your smile as well."

She looked into his eyes through the silence that followed, then closed her own, saying softly, "I suppose Nox isn't just for remembering, its for the future too.” And she pulled him into an embrace. "Light my lantern with me, Dragon Boy?”