Hellamorgue

Chapter 3: The Plaza

Upbeat tunes resonated around the town's plaza. Loud enough to make the leaves dance along with the music. People are indulged and feeling the vibe flowing down through their veins. Swaying and tapping their feet synchronized with the music. Even though the festival hasn't officially started, everyone is already enjoying themselves. A wide platform can be seen at the center of the plaza. It was built with prominent steel bars, assembled as the foundation of the stage. Covered with sturdy and structural materials ensuring the performers' safety. On the aesthetic part, the walls were painted over that resembles the galaxy and planets. A banner that states the town's festive glued against the wall. Thick red curtains hanging on both sides of the stage. Organizers arranging flowers on each sides. A pleasant view for the townspeople, where the leader would do his speech later and the intermissions will be held at. Several booths can be found around the plaza, like small colorful tents with different games and services. On the other side, volunteers are preparing an enormous table for the buffet. A lot of creatures partaken to bring their best dishes that anybody can delightfully feast with. Vehicles arrived one after another, delivering the foods, utensils and other supplies. Everyone is doing their best to make everything presentable.

"Someone fill up the right side more with Carnations, please? Thank you!" ordered by a young modest woman in a navy blue romper dress, with its skirt reaching below her knees. Black stockings beneath paired with yellow wedge boots. She wears a white turtleneck as a top.

Volunteers hurried to decorate the right corner of the stage. Filling it up with Carnations in a variety of colors. The woman raised her hands giving them the OK gesture pertaining that all is well now.

"Thank you for your hard work!" the woman thanked and bowed. The breeze gently touched her long heather tinted hair tied in a ponytail. Long pink and green streaks made her hair lively and relaxing to look at. She lifted her head and tucked loosen hair strands behind her ear. She grinned with sparkles in her eyes. Her hair suddenly gleamed and bloomed small heather flowers in it. She belongs to a flower-like entity akin to forest fairies and dryads. They are called Flauraescan.

The woman hopped her way towards a busy man few feet away from her. A cinnamon haired fox like guy in a dark brown leather jacket and sweatpants. Reddish tail and black marking on its tip, the same pattern on his straight alerted ears on the top of his head. He pushed his red rimmed eye glasses while focusing on a piece of paper about the plaza's arrangement plan. He is the lead designer and one of the organizers for this event.

"Rudy! The stage decorations are now complete, just need a little floor polishing though, but they are on it!" she happily reported.

"Oh, Heather. That's nice to hear. I'm also almost done with my work. It's really convenient that there are more volunteers this year than before." he sighed with a furrowed eyebrows.

"Yeah! So is the entire design is much better than last year's. Thanks to you, sweetie." Heather hummed as she brushed her shoulder against Rudy's, that made his thick fur coated tail wag slightly.

"No. Thanks to us." the man countered confidently. The two snickered together. Rudy then, continued guiding the workers with the help of his fiancee.

Meanwhile at the back stage, Boyd, a grown-up man in his plain black suit, practicing for the opening ceremony. He will be one of the emcees for this year's event. He formed his hand into a fist and covered his mouth with it. He coughed and tried to adjust his voice to its proper manner while tapping his throat. He loosen his necktie a bit and grabbed the scripts. Clutching on pieces of paper, Boyd studied the program's flow. While completely focused with his business, a loud stepping sounds reciprocated inside the stage. This caught Boyd's attention. He turned his head on his left where the tapping sounds came from. His eyes widened as he watched a flamboyant feline creature wearing a tux, printed with patterns resembling a lynx's fur. A white shawl covers his shoulders and wearing a dark and golden sunglasses. His tanned and furry skin complimented his entire looks. The man is none other than Mighty Lynx, a famous comedian and entertainer. Boyd stretched out his collar away from his neck and gulped. He is sweating as the cat modelled towards him, wagging his tail to the left and right. Boyd was in a starstruck.

"Mighty Lynx?" he curled his eyebrows and mumbled.

"Yo, what's up?" the lynx greeted casually.

"Woah! It's truly you! It's an honor to be your co-host for today, Mighty Lynx!" Boyd spoke out of excitement. He reached out his hand for a handshake. Lynx gladly accepted it back. He lowered down his shades and said "Just Lynx is fine bro." and then winked.

Boyd snorted while his hand is underneath his nose, holding his idiotic response. He started to ask questions to Lynx which he casually answered. The two chatted and laughed as loud as they could. They seemed to get along despite meeting each other for the first time. A lad in braids suddenly jumped in the backstage holding a bucket of water and a mop. A placid emotion was displayed on his face. Small horn with a quirky striped pattern on his forehead. His right eye were covered by layers of his side bangs, only showing his left sharp yellow eye with dark circles underneath. A spiky style inhabits the upper portion of his long raven hair till the end of his shoulder, it was braided in pigtails separating his remaining hairs. His sudden appearance cut the two guys' conversation. They turned their heads and stared at the young man in braids.

"Oh, River. It's you!" Boyd greeted.

"Uh, hey... don't mind me. I'm here to polish the stage." River replied passively. The young man walked away calmly, leaving the two emcees alone. River started doing his job and cleared the stage's dusty floor. A moment of silence occurred after an awkward situation. Boyd and Lynx raised an eyebrow, looked at each other and shrugged at the same time.