As all the crowds came in, we each handed them a piece of the scarf and some equipment, then organised them all into sections. We brought food and drinks for everyone, and soon after that, the festival was on its way.
People laughed, danced and drank to their heart's content. People of all ages were gathered here to enjoy this event. The screams of excitement and joy got so intense that some people who had chosen to spend this last day of peace at home soon started to join us.
It was extremely hard keeping everyone in order as arguments broke out again and again, with kids getting lost time and time again. But thanks to Orb, Elliot, and the rest of the housing staff working their butts off, we were able to keep things under control, if only just barely.
“Atalanta, I think we might actually die at this rate, Suzuka has collapsed over there from mental and physical exhaustion, and Cyrus can’t handle all these people touching him out of fascination.”
“What, are you chickening out?”
Fired up Orb says, “Not on your life.”
How easy to manipulate. “Hey Atalanta, I am sorry for making you do all this work, I know you wanted to have fun but now you’re the busiest one here.”
“Don’t worry about it, and I should apologize as well, I kept complaining that Dush would be a drag, but she has been everything but, I mean look at that smile,” I say pointing over to Dush having conversations with people.
“Not only her Atalanta but look at all the people who have smiles on their faces, all of that is only done to you.”
Taking a second to see all of the faces of the people around me, I truly take into account how many people are here. All these people are smiling because of me. Holding my chest, I feel an intense fuzzy feeling.
“I get it Orb, you are some pervert who gets off on this fuzzy instead of sex; you horndog.”
“How did you even reach such a conclusion; you sex-crazed bimbo.”
“What did you just call me,” I say squeezing Orb's cheeks.
“Oh come on, I doubt it is the first time someone called you such.”
Feeling someone’s arms wrap around my waist, I turn my body around to see Dush.
“Lanta, come with me.”
“Why aren’t you having a lot of fun with your new friends?”
“They want to know all about me, and we can't have Dush without Lanta can we.”
“But I still have work to do.”
“Don’t worry Atalanta I got this covered.”
“But Orb-.”
“Don’t worry I need to get used to dealing with crowds of people by myself, the future I have envisioned for all of us demands it, so just go and party it up a little bit Lanta!”
“Hey boy who gave you permission to use Lanta’s nickname, I gave it to her it is only for us idiot, bleh!”
Letting out a sigh, I smack Dush on the head and say, “I ain’t your husband Us, calm down!” Facing Orb I say, “I will leave it to you then, that goes for you two brats as well.”
“Mime she saw us.”
“Anto what are we going to do?”
Grabbing the twins I hand them over to Orb and say, “I trust you.” Walking away with Dush, I see Orb run into the crowd of people with the two brats on his shoulders.
“Hello everyone, this utter beauty is my friend Atalanta Supernova, the one and only.”
With everyone in high spirits, our rate of work sped up, and we were able to finally bring the bug task to a close.
“DUSH KRITZ, from this moment to the end of time your scarf has been completed, HOORAAAAY!!!”
“HOORAAAAY!!!” the crowd of people shout.
As Dush walks up to the tower that is her completed scarf tears start to fall from her eyes. “I never thought I would ever see this finished, I truly have had a miracle happen to me today, I can finally reach both Krik and Tusk, everyone I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Around the area, as Dush starts to cry, I hear someone say, “So it’s over.”
“I guess that is the last thing we ever do on Skydust.”
“Well, what did we expect, but it was a good one.”
Suddenly I hear someone start to cry, “I don’t want it to be over.”
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Then I hear another person start to cry with more and more people following after. All the high spirits that existed in the area before have evaporated, all that is left are crying faces.
They have all been so civil, but right now I can see it in all their faces that tomorrow they will wake up and Skydust will be mere hours away from a losing war, no matter how strong they try to act it is still hard to face, I don’t even know if it is possible to be at peace with such a thing.
Tapping Orb I say, “Make a platform of ice underneath me.”
Having a moment of confusion, Orb's head quickly turns green, then follows my instructions while saying, “You can do this.”
I can’t let such happy people, no I can’t let Dush’s special day be ruined by all this sadness. When the pillar reaches its peak, I scream, “EVERYBODY!!”
But I soon realize my voice can’t reach all these people nor can it overcome all this crying. Shit is this really going to end here. In my peripheral vision I see something flying at me, so I catch it. Looking at what I caught I see it is a shattered shell, seeing the direction it came from I see Orb giving me a tumbs up.
He really is a nice child. “EVERYBODY LISTEN UP, THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO GET TO APPRECIATE EVERYONE IN SKYDUST, SO INSTEAD OF CRYING LIKE CHILDREN GROW SOME MASSIVE BALLS AND HAVE FUN WITH ALL THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE AROUND YOU!!!!”
Catching my breath, I hear people slowly stop to cry until eventually all the crying in the area stops. “NOW THAT’S WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.” Looking down at Orb I scream, “GET THESE PEOPLE SOME DRINKS AND THE KIDS SOME CANDY!!!”
As Orb starts to run around, I yell, “LET ME HEAR YOU ROAR.”
A pathic roar goes throughout the area. “I SAID ROAR LIKE YOU’RE GOING TO DIE TOMORROW!!!!”
“ROAR!!”
“I CAN’T HEAR YOU, but I guess second-rate crafters who live in a second-rate country can do anything right, oh wait my mistake I mean city because you’re so pathetic you don’t deserve the title of a country.”
“ROAR!!!!!!” the crowds utter. But following that are streams of insults towards me.
Looks like my plan worked out a bit too well. But look at all that energy, I think today is going to be fantastic.
For the rest of the day until the sun had completely disappeared, we partied our hearts out till we could barely even stand, and eventually, it all came to an end.
“Elliot spread the scarf over there.”
“Right lady Lanta.”
Since a bunch of people fell asleep in Dushes compound due to the party we are using the scarf as a blanket to cover them all.
“Now where the hell is Orb and everyone?”
“Lady Lanta, they should all be over there.”
Walking to where I am directed, I see Orb, Cyrus, Suzuka, Elia, Iancu, Avram, and the three idiots all huddling around each other, completely exhausted. From Orb's unconscious body, I see tears fall down his eyes, and then I hear him mutter, “Capti, please don’t go.”
“I forget sometimes; he really is just a child.” Getting close to Orb I say, “You did well for a little boy.” Orb's hand quickly moves in and swats my face.
“You’re awake you bastard!”
“Calm down Seiryu, don’t hurt Uathach,” Orb mumbles with his eyes closed.
Orb is still unconscious I guess he was just having a dream.
“Lanta there you are, what’s going on.”
“I was just looking for a place to sleep here.”
“Then come with me.”
“Wait, are you really trying to fuck me?”
“No!!! I just wanted to know if you want to have a sleepover?”
-Break-
Laying in bed with Dush beside me I say, “This scarf really is long, even after covering everyone it can still lead inside the house and cover us.”
“Hehehe, don’t compliment me too much.”
“Isn’t that what friends do, complement each other.”
“Well, you’re the popular one so you should know.”
“I am popular, but to be honest Atalanta Supernova has no friends, to be honest, the only real friend I would have is you.”
Making a sniffling sound Dush says, “Really.”
“Thanks so sad, isn’t it Mime.”
“Very much Anto.”
Jumping up from bed, I say, “Wait, Mime? Anto? Are you two here?”
“Mime is right beside Dush.”
“Anto is here beside Lanta.”
“How the hell did you get in here?”
“We’re thieves.”
“LEAVE!”
“No, it is cold outside, I would rather snuggle up to Lady Dush.”
“Mime do you really like me that much?”
“Thieves rule number 1; if someone feeds you, they are family from that point on,” Anto says.
“So Dush from this point on Mime and Anto Baudelaire, are your family members.”
“Thank you both, that is very cute.”
“But you still need to go brat.” Hearing no response, I turn my face towards hers, but to my surprise, I see her sleeping, “WHAT THE HELL!”
Anto beside me says, "Thieves rule number 2; You must know how to fall asleep at will.”
“Teach me that skill.” Looking down I see Anto has fallen asleep, “That’s about right.”
Laying back in bed I say, “I should have known this was going to happen!”
“Lanta you really are worked up!”
“How else am I supposed to feel about those two brats!”
Letting out a laugh, I say, “I know what you mean kids can be complex yet simple, a real struggle and one of the many failures of my life is understanding them.”
A moment of silence follows Dushes words, then after a little bit of time I say, “You don’t need to be so hard on yourself.”
“You know Lanta, I had been wishfully dreaming up until now, that my scarf will be completed, that I could unite people with it, that I will be able to befriend everybody, that I might be able to so everyone the greatest Dush Zalik.
I have always known despite my dreams or hard work that the reality of that was probably low, but thanks to you guys I was able to fulfil that dream and I have nothing else but thank you to say for all of this.”
“Well, you can keep your thanks since this isn’t over yet, we still have to show Tusk your scarf, and you still haven’t been able to show all of the people of Skydust how freakin amazing you are, those stories you told me gave me chills.”
“You really are so sweet Lanta, but you know what is happening tomorrow.”
Another moment of silence sweeps the room which is ended when I say, “Us, leave Skydust and come with us.”
“Lanta, I can’t-.”
“Wait a moment, I just want to say you aren’t originally from here and there is still a lot left for you to do. I am not saying abandon this place forever, but I am just saying come with me and return when things get better, I am sure Orb and everyone will love your presence. So how about it?
“Ok, let's go and have a great adventure.”
“From the depths of the ocean.”
“To the top of the heavens.”
“We will gain lots of things.”
“And reclaim that which we have lost.”
“We will take the Kritz business to even greater heights.”
“Then drown ourselves and the poor in Lupas.”
“We will eat and drink till we die.”
“Then we will go back for more.”
“No worries.”
“Just two best friends enjoying life.”
“Sounds fun, doesn’t it.”
“Super fun.”
“Well, then we should rest up.”
As I rustle into place Dush hugs me from the back and says, “I always wanted to have a sleepover with a friend, thank you Lanta.”
“Me as well, goodnight Us.”
“Goodnight, Lanta.”
During that night all the people who rested under that scarf felt a strange phenomenon happen, despite being outside and in the cold only covered by thin pieces of cloth, they still all felt warm. It was as if all their warmth was shared with each other.