Submission (#2133) Approved

It had taken him all day.

Sure, it would have been easier if it hadn't been for the glue that his sister picked, or the type of paper that they had used for the lantern seemed too flimsy, (Tansy complained it was tradition,) or the blasted petals that kept falling in to his scientifically precise cut of the mental that would hold Rook's luminous orb that dangled closely to him. Whatever the case, he spent most of the day growling and scrapping pieces, fighting incorrect cuts and just being the grumpy, scientifically driven self that he was.

Even was going to Even.

Admittedly, though, he was feeling a little sour about the location that they picked.

Faerindell had been a poor choice for the siblings to take part in the Pomu Lantern lighting this year, Even felt, but since it was unique and different from Belmorill - where Mother Mitternacht lived - he had agreed to join with his siblings to 'see the sights' and 'enjoy a different environment. It was different, he agreed. The colours were still quite bright and punchy as Belmorill's warm oranges and fall like appearance, but there was a vast difference.

Bright pinks and oranges, wild purples and greens were accosting to him in the forests, and the orchards were full of punchy coloured fruits and vegetables, which seemed to be the greatest achievement of the land. It was almost burning to his eyes, a somewhat overwhelming of the senses for the first day or two that they were there - and since Tansy was pink, white and purple (mainly due to her taking after her father,) she almost melted in to the surrounding, and Bosco (who stuck out a little more, being almost pitch black from his ear tips to his shoulders,) claimed that he, himself, seemed to fit well in this location with his pelt colour.

He responded with a stern look, at the time, but now he sort of got it. Gross.

Even had to admit though, as he worked on the finishing touches of the very specifically built lantern pieces, that the orchards had picked up his attention though. Everything was so nicely set up, he spent hours talking to some farmers about how they had set the irrigation lines, different plant breeding types that were created to boost production and crop sizes. Hearing how they produced things differently than the bookish Belmorill kept him happy for most of that day, and while his siblings were off galivanting around the brightly coloured forests and towns, enjoying the slice-of-life appeal, he spent his time doing what he loved most. Learning.

Not that he wasn't comfortable or happy around his siblings, their tastes were just very different, which was very evident since when he was much younger. Nothing that he couldn't get around, but ultimately, Even just kind of wanted to be alone, by himself, most of the time. He wasn't a people pleaser, like Mother Mitternacht or Tansy, and wasn't exactly noble and brave, like Bosco. He was Even, the tinkerer, learner and reader.

Quiet was for him, and they were okay with that. Noisy was for them, and he was okay with that, too. He accepted, sometimes, when they'd drag him out, like currently, but given the chance, he'd rather just be at home reading a book. Even though he had read almost every book in his mother's house, and was starting exhaust certain parts of the local library. He was usually first to know when a new discovery, or research paper had been sent out, but he was starting to think maybe leaving home and finding somewhere new.

Liken to being in Faerindell, with his siblings, but a little different.

So, here he was, trying to figure out what was best for his lantern, accessory wise. He didn't want something too heavy and gaudy - mainly because he felt a little bad for his pomu friend, it seemed weird to stick a hibernating creature inside a lantern, but from what he was told by the adults, it was to keep them safe and comfortable why the miasma was high.

Even had ideas for the miasma, but they were all small, like he was currently, and he needed to expand on them, but he had time and a life span that, (he hoped,) would last quite a long time.

A long, golden tassel at the end, he figured as he mused, placing it where all the wires connected at the bottom of his lantern. It looked a little extra fancy, but he figured Rook was worth it. He had befriended his own little pomu when one of his books that he had borrowed from the library had gone missing, and having exhausted hours looking for it, he flopped over exhausted. A late book fee, what was the world coming to, he had a perfect record!

Lo, and behold, though, a few moments later a little pair of eyes was peering from his shadow at him, the edge of a book peeping up from behind it's little head.

He shrieked, it shrieked, he learnt that day that his pomu was a little bit of a book hoarder. He also learnt the hard way that he had to sacrifice notebooks and pens to Rook, for he was extremely fond of writing (even if it was mainly illegible, to him, and what he could read was just the word "pomu" over and over again,) and seemed to take 'minutes' when Even was trying to do some science experiment at home.

Not that he was allowed to very often after he blew up a toilet. That was not his fault.

So, he hoped that this low time in miasma would go away, so he could get his one little friend back, (Iah counted as a friend, also, but he wouldn't say that out loud,) his shadow was a bit lonely, but he would never speak of that to any of his siblings, they wouldn't let him live it down. They still won't let him live down the fact that his crown looked like a hermit crab. He liked his crown, thank you very much.

Carefully, as he mused to himself, he worked on the finishing touches of his lantern, and gave it a stern nod. It seem steady, strong, and a little . . . .pretty. He will not tell Tansy this. It was though, and he felt that, hopefully, his pomu would appreciate it. Even if it was currently sleeping.

Rook would just have to see it when he woke up.

Letting the little wisp of light slowly settle in to the middle of the lantern, washing his normally white fur with a warm purple and red tone, making him let off a very, very smile. No one could see it, except maybe Rook's little warm light, but the Pomu wasn't saying anything.

Softly attaching it to his tail, he let the lantern rise, which in part slowly rose the end-puff of his tail, which wasn't too terrible. Elevation was always very tricky, and all he needed was to suddenly be lifted, taken away by his own concoction.

"Alright, let's show Tansy." He murmured out to no one in particular, lifting his head and puffing his chest out a little. He did it, his lantern was finished.