CONTESSA DOESN’T UNDERSTAND FIREWORKS
Added 2025-02-24 12:37:27 +0000 UTCThe night sky above the fairgrounds stretched dark and endless, broken only by the occasional flicker of movement as people milled about, anticipation hanging in the air. The scent of fried food, wood smoke, and the last traces of summer warmth mingled together, wrapping the place in a familiar, comforting haze.
Contessa stood near the edge of the crowd, watching as children wove between their parents, glow sticks and sparklers trailing streaks of light in their hands. Beside her, Maggie stood with her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the sky.
“Almost time,” she said, her voice low and teasing.
Contessa glanced at her. “For what?”
Maggie’s grin widened. “You’ll see.”
A distant whistle pierced the night, sharp and sudden. Then—
Boom.
The sky erupted in a cascade of light. Red, gold, and blue—fiery streaks spiraled outward, only to dissolve into the darkness. Another followed quickly enough, bursting in perfect symmetry, and the crowd erupted in cheers of delight and awe.
Contessa’s eyes followed the trails of light. “These serve no function,” she remarked, her tone matter-of-fact.
Maggie let out a snort. “They serve the function of being pretty.”
Contessa’s brow furrowed slightly. “They are temporary.”
“Yeah,” Maggie said, her voice softening. “That’s kind of the point.”
More fireworks bloomed overhead, their crackling echoes rippling through the night. Contessa studied them, her gaze steady as each burst flared bright and vanished. She glanced at the crowd—at the way people tilted their heads back, their faces illuminated by the fleeting glow. At the way Maggie smiled, not looking at her, but simply… watching.
Contessa turned her eyes back to the sky.
The fireworks came faster now, a rapid succession of bursts washing the crowd with vivid, ephemeral colors.
Maggie bumped her shoulder, her grin playful. “Not bad, right?”
Contessa considered for a moment, then gave a small nod. “It is an effective distraction.”
Maggie sighed, shaking her head. “You really know how to kill a moment, hon.”
