When the Zones party, they really go all out.
It’s like the night sky, the way everything sparkles and glows with lights, glitter, flames, and all manner of beautiful things.
The decorations aren’t perfect, but that’s the best part. They wouldn’t want them to be perfect, because then the city would have their way. They make things out of love and joy and passion, not out of the need to have them be exactly as envisioned, although that’s always a plus.
Newcomers to the desert are always surprised by how lovely it can be, when for so long they had no clue and were told about how hot and awful and barren it was. Seeing it for themselves though, they know they’d been lied to.
It is hot, yes. It can be absolutely unbearable. It is awful too, because really, who wants to be running for their lives half the time when they could be enjoying the fresh(ish) air and the sun? And it is barren too. The city makes sure of that. They make supply shipments to other places that nobody is really sure of all the time, but anything that has to go east, is only the worst of it, in case a killjoy crew hijacks it. Everything west is the good stuff, because there’s a lot less trouble for them, and soon enough it’ll be on a boat or a plane anyway. So yes, it is all true. But they still learn that they were lied to.
Because through as much of it rings true every day, so much more comes to light in the happier moments, and they can see the true beauty of being out there. That freedom, or wonder of nature, or happiness that beats strong in the hearts of every person living and thriving and loving in the desert? That’s the truth.