FIESTA! Arriba Arriba, otra vez! (everybody!)

[ARIELLA MANON]

"Suavemente!" The crowd roared along with the song.

It was a party for no reason, and for every reason. It was a party because people here knew how to party. It started with groups of friends - maybe from the local university or high school - bringing music into the square at night when the place was alive already with people sitting in cafes and hanging by the fountain.

Play music and people start to dance, because people here know how to party - they are alive and the beat calls to their soul. They come. And soon everybody is here. People come and go, some wander off to the sidelines to smoke and take a break, some people just pass through - but it stays crowded.

"Te gusta!" "Te traigo!"

It's mostly young people - but passing families sometimes stopped and watched. A young couple stopped to watch, smiling, while their toddler began hopping to the beat. Anyone watching - old men sitting at the cafe tables, or teens dancing nearby - cheered and clapped for him. Even an old lady headed home, paused for a moment, swayed to the beat, took a few steps, and then continued on her way.

There was a party going on, and like magic, the whole city knew and flocked to the square. Bottles of tequila and premixed margaritas passed through the crowd. Ari took swigs of both, and whatever else floating among the people. She danced, swaying her head, her shoulders and hips to the beat. She danced with guys. She danced with girls. Strangers all of them - but everyone was welcome. Everyone here was family. It wasn't just a party - it was a fiesta.

"Papi Como dice el barbero,
pelo,
pelo,
pelo!"

A fiesta was a party, plus lights, times a gazillion.

[TATIANA LUCIA DAHL]

The crowded square would seem like the last place Tatiana would be however she felt the need to unwind for a bit. She was dressed in a nice blouse and baby blue jumper, her hair curled in spirals that fell to her shoulders. She had a chocolate ice cream cone in her hand as she moved through the crowd, occasionally taking a lick as she took in the sights and sounds. 'It amazes me how people in this city can still celebrate with the tension building' she thought as she continued to make her way through the crowd. She never would allow herself to be so care-free though tonight, she would indulge just once.

She began to tap her feet lightly to the music and she soon began to dance to the music. She soon found herself getting caught up the group and began to dance. 'How long has it been since I last was like this?' she thought to herself as she continued to dance. She knew that her second and body guard would be worried, but she wasn't exactly defenseless. However, she was so caught up in the music, she didn't see a person coming up next to her. She accidentally bumped into the person, causing her ice cream cone to spill.

Not wanting to be seen as suspicious, she acted like any child would and her lip began to quiver. "Oh no, I'm sorry, I got ice cream on your shoes, I'm so sorry" she said, sniffling as she gripped her skirt, letting her eyes downcast on the ground. She felt sick to her stomach acting like this, but for appearances, she had to act accordingly lest she be discovered for what she really was. She slowly looked up at the person, a few tears forming in her eyes.

[ARIELLA MANON]

People were bumping into to each other from all sides, so Ariella hardly noticed until a splash of sticky, melting coldness hit her right foot. Alcohol consumption had clear affects on the body. She looked at her foot, she looked around, caught sight of the only person near her that was stationary, and heard the words - just barely, what with the loud music and singing, drunk people. The situation dawned on her about at the same time and pair of watery blue eyes met hers.

Despite the scene of seeming innocence before her, Ariella almost laughed. What kind of kid felt so instantly guilt-ridden? All kids cared about was getting in trouble. Maybe this was the kids way of deterring trouble - Ari suspected that was it, in which case this was a clever kid. At the same time she was thinking What are you? 10? 11? 12? I had my first boyfriend at that age! I was so busy pretending to be so much older than I was. Who actually acts their true age anymore?

What she said (loudly) was, "Oh what's a pair of flip-flops anyway?" And with that she took hers off and tossed them into the nearby fountain. They floated like strange boats in the rippling light. Ari felt like she was making some sort of exuberant statement, but in her buzzed state she had no idea what it was. Her foot was still a bit sticky, but even that she could dip into the fountain before going home.

"I'm surprised you danced as long as you did while holding an ice cream - that's skill!" Ari meant that earnestly because it was a task she probably couldn't manage herself. She smiled widely. "Don't cry senorita! Would you like another ice cream?" Maybe two? Ari thought. Tonight was the night to indulge all whims. Tonight was the sort of night people should live for. Just the beat of good music and not a care in the world.

[TATIANA LUCIA DAHL]

Tatiana blinked in a confused manner when she saw the young woman carelessly toss her flip flops in the fountain. 'I suppose she's a bit buzzed' she thought to herself. "Oh, it's really nothing miss, just good balance" she said bashfully with a small giggle, continuing to play the part, "and another ice cream sounds like a good idea to me, miss...um, I don't think I got your name." She was always told that one should always introduce themselves when talking to someone, but she supposed in this woman's state, it slipped her mind.

"Well, my name is Anastasia Anderson, and it's really nice to meet you" she said, holding out her hand to the other woman. She was wondering what her people were up to during this celebration. She guessed her body guard and beta would be looking for her by now since she never really went out on her own very often since it was dangerous out there for a girl especially an innocent looking one. "I don't remember where the ice cream parlor is and this crowd is really big. Will you stick with me?" she asked, looking up at the woman, wondering how the rest of the night would unfold.

((sorry about the shortness of the post)

[ARIELLA MANON]

"Ariella Manon. Pleased to meet to you." Ariella was not at the stage of alcohol consumption where she slurred words, but, especially whilst enunciating her name, her French accent escaped its normal suppression. "But you can call me Ella." She had no idea why she offered that up, but it made sense that she would want the little girl to feel comfortable talking to her (besides, people tended to be unsure in placing the stress in "Ari" - Ella was universal.) Yes, it was odd how Ariella was making rational decisions without realizing it and being in a mostly irrational state of mind.

"Hm. Anastasia Anderson. Pretty name - though odd. Anastasia and Anderson are both common enough, but I never encountered or imagined them together." Ariella said this all mainly because she was thinking aloud and not actually expecting any sort of response.

The music was tugging her back so much so the feeling was almost tangible. In fact, it took Ari a moment to realize the tugging sensation in her arm was actually from a hopeful, potential dance partner, but Ari shook her head and took her arm back. At this point in the night, Ari was in a good mood, and was going to be in a good mood no matter what she did. She took the little girl's hand and walked in the general direction of the nearest cafe (they all served ice cream right?) "Sure! Let's go. Ice cream sounds good, now that I think about it."

(( no problem =) ))