Weird old drabble thingie.
Feb. 16th, 2006 10:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dagas_isa((x-posted to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sombrelucian where it makes a bit more sense))
The makeup caked on Zomi's face served two practical purposes. Not only did it pale the skin and transform her into a believable spirit creature, it also pressed her exuberant features into a solemn expression. So as she rode the billowing float that represented unseen forces, no one could know her exact joy at finally taking part of a ceremony she had watched all her life.
She bore the short slow ride to their destination with a faint smile on her face. Before and below her, trained dancers performed routines to keep the throngs at the side of the road entertained until the festivities started. From the ground, their near acrobatic moves had always amazed her, and now from her new perspective, the entire spectacle took on a new order, even as her eyes trained by watching countless rehearsals could tell the experienced ones from her fellow neophytes.
Behind that, row after row of musicians marched, tapping out beats on their drums and coaxing dramatic notes out of simple bamboo instruments. And closing the procession, ordinary people who celebrated their birthday this month marched, lapping up the attention their temporary auspiciousness gave them during this month long holiday. Moons in conjunction vibrated in their bones, rising their wills above the others in the crowd, and even from the distance, Zomi could see the way their backs rose lance straight, and she imagined their smiles outshone any of the spectators'.
Certainly, most of the people lined against the one road that led from the eastern corner of Utame's land to the tower in the center grinned with a light that brought life to the dry ground, and Zomi wished that her role allowed her to smile back at them, but to the people who celebrated this month as their own, she owed them a splendid performance filled with decorum. So she turned her attention to those who didn't smile.
There she saw the full scope of reaction. Those who looked bored, frightened, saddened, angered by the parade and the holiday it represented made up the majority of the discontents, but a few uncertain figures hung towards the back of the people looking lost and genuinely pained. Of course, one last non-smiling face waited near the entrance of Utame itself, Nori, the seneschal of the entire tower and Zomi's older sister. Although even she managed to give Zomi a forced smile for support as she rode past the gates and into the courtyard where the performance was to take place.
Dignity forced her to simply nod in acknowledgment, but the genuine look of approval on her stern sister's face made it difficult to maintain her already strained semblance of calm.
"Focus, Zomi, focus," she told herself, as the float stopped at the edge of a makeshift stage, "You have work to do. You have to make them invite you back for the next Tidal."
Although Landera played Navas, the famous temptress of Axian legend and the lead female of the story, Zomi felt honored to do the job that no foreigner with a slurred accent could do. As the first one to descend from the Cloud of Mist float, she made her steps slow and deliberate, giving herself time to run through her lines. Her companion, a boy draped in an exaggerated version of Ancient Saidenese dress, linked arms with her, and together they walked up to the stage, waiting for all to gather in the garden area.
"Men and women, boys and girls of Kakkasha Utame, and the spirits who watch us from afar," their voices rang in unison, a miracle of voice projection in pitch silence. "We gather you all in a tale of remembrance."
"A tale of unity between humans and the others who exist beyond our sight." Zomi said, her stomach still shaking, even as the lines flowed from her mouth.
"A tale of free will thwarted and the punishments brought to those who prevent our choices." Her companion echoed her words.
"We are the eyes, those who see everything ahead."
"We are the hands who form beauty without boundaries."
"Together we built this world, and together we lived it. Until the days of Mera and Navas. We reunite now, so that we may tell you our story."
Over and out.
sombrelucian where it makes a bit more sense))The makeup caked on Zomi's face served two practical purposes. Not only did it pale the skin and transform her into a believable spirit creature, it also pressed her exuberant features into a solemn expression. So as she rode the billowing float that represented unseen forces, no one could know her exact joy at finally taking part of a ceremony she had watched all her life.
She bore the short slow ride to their destination with a faint smile on her face. Before and below her, trained dancers performed routines to keep the throngs at the side of the road entertained until the festivities started. From the ground, their near acrobatic moves had always amazed her, and now from her new perspective, the entire spectacle took on a new order, even as her eyes trained by watching countless rehearsals could tell the experienced ones from her fellow neophytes.
Behind that, row after row of musicians marched, tapping out beats on their drums and coaxing dramatic notes out of simple bamboo instruments. And closing the procession, ordinary people who celebrated their birthday this month marched, lapping up the attention their temporary auspiciousness gave them during this month long holiday. Moons in conjunction vibrated in their bones, rising their wills above the others in the crowd, and even from the distance, Zomi could see the way their backs rose lance straight, and she imagined their smiles outshone any of the spectators'.
Certainly, most of the people lined against the one road that led from the eastern corner of Utame's land to the tower in the center grinned with a light that brought life to the dry ground, and Zomi wished that her role allowed her to smile back at them, but to the people who celebrated this month as their own, she owed them a splendid performance filled with decorum. So she turned her attention to those who didn't smile.
There she saw the full scope of reaction. Those who looked bored, frightened, saddened, angered by the parade and the holiday it represented made up the majority of the discontents, but a few uncertain figures hung towards the back of the people looking lost and genuinely pained. Of course, one last non-smiling face waited near the entrance of Utame itself, Nori, the seneschal of the entire tower and Zomi's older sister. Although even she managed to give Zomi a forced smile for support as she rode past the gates and into the courtyard where the performance was to take place.
Dignity forced her to simply nod in acknowledgment, but the genuine look of approval on her stern sister's face made it difficult to maintain her already strained semblance of calm.
"Focus, Zomi, focus," she told herself, as the float stopped at the edge of a makeshift stage, "You have work to do. You have to make them invite you back for the next Tidal."
Although Landera played Navas, the famous temptress of Axian legend and the lead female of the story, Zomi felt honored to do the job that no foreigner with a slurred accent could do. As the first one to descend from the Cloud of Mist float, she made her steps slow and deliberate, giving herself time to run through her lines. Her companion, a boy draped in an exaggerated version of Ancient Saidenese dress, linked arms with her, and together they walked up to the stage, waiting for all to gather in the garden area.
"Men and women, boys and girls of Kakkasha Utame, and the spirits who watch us from afar," their voices rang in unison, a miracle of voice projection in pitch silence. "We gather you all in a tale of remembrance."
"A tale of unity between humans and the others who exist beyond our sight." Zomi said, her stomach still shaking, even as the lines flowed from her mouth.
"A tale of free will thwarted and the punishments brought to those who prevent our choices." Her companion echoed her words.
"We are the eyes, those who see everything ahead."
"We are the hands who form beauty without boundaries."
"Together we built this world, and together we lived it. Until the days of Mera and Navas. We reunite now, so that we may tell you our story."
Over and out.
