Out with the old....

[sundead]

Who: Everyone
What: New Year's.
When: Dec. 31st, New Year's Eve, to Jan 1st, New Year's Day.
Where: Everywhere
Summary: It's New Year's, and the people of Luceti have a lot to reflect upon, and to look forward to. And on a more meta level, new journal names.
Rating: We'll see...

New Year's brings images of crowds, and songs, and fireworks; staying up til midnight and watching balls or bells being rung. But Luceti is a different time and place. Whether you're partying with friends or watching the sunrise, what are you doing today?

Comments

[folklorist]

[ That is the best party hat ever, Fuuko. Helios smiles unable to contain his own amusement and enthusiasm. as he takes that hat and puts it on. ] How do I look? [ Just a laugh. He doesn't make to take it off though. ]

Oh yes! I certainly am. It's been a beautiful show so far!

[lostinmyway]

Do you have a resolution, Helios?

[ex_affability656]

[It's something he hasn't heard, either--but it hits home. His hand freezes over the pictures--disappear--he doesn't want to think about what that means. But he can't help it.]

...That's terrible.

[folklorist]

It's a phoenix! A mythical bird from legends and myths in my own world. [ It'll swoop down and Helios will hold up his hand the phoenix circling once, twice, and then landing a few feet away. It's an ever flowing river of orange, red, and yellow light. Almost like a self contained fire moving across its skin the details aren't apparent but the form and natural shape are and Helios smiles. ]

They're very beautiful in person...even more so than this one. I-I'm afraid I haven't really captured its beauty to be honest. [ he shrugs. ] But people seem to be enjoying them well enough.

[musubi]

Are you getting gloomy on me again? Stop that. You were doing well.

[contentedly]

[She nods, one arm wrapping around her waist in a reassuring gesture.]

[selphie_t]

Can too!

[POUT.]

[lostinmyway]

Despite her resolve, Grune rests in Ginia's hold a little more than she would ordinarily. It takes her a little longer to pull away, as well, but eventually, she does.

"I hope he feels better soon."

[ledbythewind]

[Unconsciously his hands tighten on the railing.]

I really do wonder why you put up with someone like me sometimes.

[folklorist]

Me? Ah...a-a few. [ Try to open up more. Try to...allow people to get closer. Allow people to help him heal. ] I haven't really given it much thought to be honest.

[lostinmyway]

Oh, that's all right. I'm sure you'll think of something really good.

............................my emotions.

[ex_affability656]

[...He knew that wanting their family to grow would be something he could never have ever since he came here. That was just a fact--he didn't have a life to return to, and he was lucky enough to have the two of them. But there was still a selfish part of him that wanted it. He can't help it--having a family was always his goal. Learning this--children disappearing--makes this desire sink cold into his stomach.

Children that didn't have a home to go to...

Still he's smiling. Like nothing's changed. He moves swiftly back to the topic of pictures--that was easy. Always easy.]

I got some at the Christmas party, of course.

I knooooooooooooow ;_;

[contentedly]

[He wasn't the only one who had the thought turn them cold, whose dream had always been to make a family. Her father had died, her brother had died, and her mother had rejected her for choosing Maes. Gracia had poured her heart and soul into their family, into the hope of building something new, something solid and lasting... with him. He'd wanted children - and she'd wanted them too. A whole houseful, as loud and boisterous as he was, as caring and smart and creative and kind...

But even in this strange half-life they were living, she couldn't yet bring herself to be intimate with him, let alone...

The risk was too great. She knew that.

But still her heart aches.]

Oh?

[moehealer]

So you just call them by their species then?

[..yeah, may as well ask.] Also, uh... Do you happen to know Gold, Silver, or Crystal?

[shadedsunlight]

Ginia lets Grune hold on for as long as she wishes, only moving back when she does.

"I do too. It, uh, doesn't seem right going into a new year... well." She smiles weakly and gives a light shrug.

"He's here if you wanted to say hi."

[moehealer]

A New Year's... offering? [whaaaat. Tilting her head a bit.]

I haven't but... [is she supposed to..]

[ex_affability656]

[Bear it and keep smiling. Just like he always did. He had so much to be happy about here. It didn't do to dwell on could-have-been's and maybe's.

And yet.]

Of course! [Pictures full of smiling people--look, there's Archie Kennedy, Grune, and even the turtle, Leonardo!] We met some pretty extraordinary people there.

[contentedly]

[She can't bear a false face from him. It's hypocritical and - ungenerous - and wrong, considering all the strained smiles she's been giving him, but she hates it, she hates it, and abruptly she'd rather that they just held each other and wept than this.

She moves over to him and puts her hand on his shoulder, saying nothing but looking at him with concern.]

[ex_affability656]

[The smile fades at her touch--yes, he thought she'd see through that. She always had a good way of seeing when he hurt, much as he tried to keep it from bringing her down.

But--he doesn't want to burden her. Not after she's been through so much. So much that he put her through. He'd given her too many burdens already, and she deserves better. All the happiness the world could possibly give her. Even here, he'd promised himself to do anything to make her happy. It didn't seem fair to do this to her. This was supposed to be a night shared in celebration. Of new chances, of new opportunities.

...And yet.]

Gracia...

[His hand crosses to rest on hers as he meets her eyes. He was so lucky. He shouldn't feel this way.]

[touchofrogue]

It's not... it's not simple. [Gawd, what does she even say to all that?]

I don't know what ta say, Kurt. It might have been her own doin' that got her frozen into stone, but I was the one that [pushed her off a cliff] ...made sure she'd never come back. I know I hurt you and... I wish I could have done what was right.

[If only she knew what was right. Leaving Mystique alive to hurt them both? Was that right? No. But saving her... like Gambit saved his dad... saving her would have been right, for sure. She swallows hard, daring to share a little bit more.]

Do you know why Mystique adopted me?

[It's at least in part a rhetorical question - she knows she's never talked about this with him - with anyone, really - before.

Let's just say it was my powers she wanted to nurture didn't even begin to cover it.]

[contentedly]

[That's the problem, isn't it. She's been so concerned with not hurting him with her pain, with protecting herself... she's been keeping all of her burdens to herself. And he has been doing the same. But they were always strongest, they were always best, they fit... when they shared their burdens. That's what love was supposed to do, after all.

She's not sure her heart has the strength for it, to crack open and expose the red bleeding bits for him. But she knows she doesn't want this... politeness. Not from him.

But there was safety in distance. Could she bare to lose him again?

...did she even have him if she kept him out of her heart like this?

She freezes, torn between her intentions like a deer in the headlights.

But she doesn't look away from him, doesn't move, barely breathes.]

[daisy023]

[Daisy keeps looking up for an instant. It's a mistletoe. She remembered seeing them throughout Luceti. There is the briefest of flashes in the back of her mind, of her mom kissing her dad near it...

...And then it's gone.]

... Nothing.

[She leans her head back to Keimi's side, settling her arms back into a more comfortable hold for the two of them.

Daisy breathes happily.]

Happy New Year.

[meteorical]

"Make sure you have an area of just plain sand so that people can sunbathe and build sandcastles. I know one of the things I loved the most about our play island back home was just sitting on the sand and making things, hanging out with my friends while the boys sparred. I think you're on the right track though with a swimming area and a dock. Maybe other options too...supply boats and surfboards and things."

[the_brightest_sun]

Friends and food are the best things in the whole world! It's tons of fun to eat with everyone else.

[Smiling brightly, the kid is fast in nodding when she asks. Even if he wasn't, eating is fun.]

[deathsdoctor]

"I've never had one of those. I tend to have my drinks straight. Sake, rum, scotch..."

But alcohol combined with his absolute favorite vice, coffee, was sounding very appealing indeed. And so he began silently walking towards the bright, warm lights.

"Is it good?"