Quote:
When the Fire Works (14) : Innovation is expected in Destiny City, so seasonal commodities are always expected to sell well. This year, the hot new summer item includes some chemically enhanced logs: carefully modified with environmental and health-safe chemicals, these logs are guaranteed to burn bright, burn long, and burn beautifully. It’s not just a pretty flame: each individual log has several rings that will light up like a sparkler when the flame hits. Larger logs will even pop off small, colorful fireworks for several hours while they burn. Though the lightshow is beautiful, it’s also calm. The logs have a pleasant, earthy smell, and unlike the sounds of normal fireworks, these simply sound like a crackling fire. There’s something curiously nostalgic about these fires; they are able to elicit a sort of childlike whimsy, if only you let them. If not, it’s still pretty.

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Some classmates, friends or acquaintances depending on how you wanted to look at it, had drawn Abby out of her childhood home to ‘have some fun and shake that look on your face’. They apparently thought that she was too absorbed in her own thoughts and world that it would be best to take her out to a party, not really caring that a party was one of the last places she wanted to be. There was just too much she had to mull over. To decide on. But she also didn’t push it too hard since even she was tired of the endless, circular, arguments she had been having with herself.

“Here,” A blonde girl passed her a red solo cup. “You really should go dance. There is a guy who keeps looking over here that I know would die for a chance with you.” The young woman had been one of the most persistent classmates she had. Granted, the woman was also one of the closer friends from her classes as well so she likely felt some kind of way regarding Abby’s current mental situation.

Abby sighed and shook her head before sipping from the cup, disregarding any real annoyance she felt at the very idea of being set up with someone, a brow raising at the taste of wine. Bad wine. It was a shame really since Abby enjoyed wine on occasion. “I am not really in the mood for dancing. Besides, if he was that interested he should come over himself.” The young woman didn’t even bother to look where her classmate had indicated her potential paramour was standing. There were people everywhere at this house party, drinks were flowing freely, and the music was loud. The quietest area in the entire party was outside by a firepit, which is why she was there. Sitting in a lawn chair, watching as the logs lit up every so often in a shower of sparks.

It was a gimmick. One of those trick logs that did stuff when burned. This one in particular set off little sparkler like flares, occasionally sending off a colorful pop, and generally giving a show even as the flames crackled and licked at the wood.

“Oh come on Abbs! You need to live a little! I don’t know who you have stuck on your mind but let them go, no man is worth that much brain power.” The other woman shook her head and fussed at Abby, holding her hand out and urging the darker skinned female to climb to her feet. “I am not taking ‘no’ for an answer here. We brought you here to have fun and by god we will! Now finish your drink and lets at least snag one of those little star charms that everyone got.”

“I didn’t say anything about ‘a man’,” Abby protested even as she reluctantly clambered to her feet, absently contemplating what color of charm she could find. Maybe crimson… to go with the color of the fire?

“Girl, you didn’t have to! The way you’ve been mopping it can’t be anything but boy trouble.” Her friend scoffed even as she dragged Abby away from the firepit and towards the house. “Maybe we can find you someone you can have fun with. Get your mind off of whoever was stupid enough to turn you down.” Her laughter cutting through the music even as they both get lost in the crowd of partygoers.