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

[shadedsunlight]

Hi, Pao-lin! You look great! And thanks for helping out.

[Ginia approaches Pao-lin with a happy wave and a smile, being the bubbly hostess of the evening. It's a good night, people are enjoying themselves, everything is going smoothly, for once, Ginia isn't worried about a thing.]

[i_am_not_cute]

[Pao-lin smiles back at her as she gathers up some dirty dishes.]

It's no problem, Miss Ginia! I wasn't doing anything else, anyway. And this is more interesting than just sitting at home.

[shadedsunlight]

Either way, I hope you're enjoying yourself. Whenever you want to go enjoy the party, you let me know, all right?

[i_am_not_cute]

Sure thing! Thanks for hosting this in the first place. It looks like things are going pretty well.

[shadedsunlight]

You're welcome. What can I say? I like a good party, this was the perfect time, and the perfect place too.

[She leans down to whisper conspiratorially and offers a small wink.]

Besides, it's the perfect excuse to dress up.

[i_am_not_cute]

[That gets a slightly awkward smile out of Pao-lin.]

I guess, yeah. I usually don't like dressing up too much. [Glancing down at her own outfit.] But something like this is okay. I wish Natasha would've let me wear something like this to the HeroTV parties and stuff like that.

[shadedsunlight]

[Her expression turns understanding.]

I can understand that. I guess for me, it's fun being a little fancy now and then. And I think that's a great outfit. Why weren't you allowed to wear it to parties in your world?

[i_am_not_cute]

She doesn't think it's "ladylike." She's always saying that she has to raise me as a "proper young lady" because she's looking after me instead of my parents, so she always tries to get me to wear really girly clothes or take me out to beauty salons and stuff...

[shadedsunlight]

Oh please. [There's a small scoff in there, but it's light and gentle.] There's more to being a "proper young lady" than the clothes you wear. It's not what you wear, but how you act.

[i_am_not_cute]

She gets on my case about that, too. "Don't talk so loud, you'll scare people off." "You shouldn't eat so much, or else you'll get fat." "Cross your ankles when you sit down!" [Siiiiigh. She misses Natasha sometimes, but she definitely does not miss being nagged about pointless little things by her.]

[shadedsunlight]

To that I say, don't talk loud because it's universally distracting, but always make yourself heard. Eat what you want, because you only get one chance to enjoy life, but also remember to be healthy. And crossing ankles... I've never liked it myself.

1/2

[i_am_not_cute]

[Pao-lin stares contemplatively up at Ginia for a little bit, considering her words.]

2/2

[i_am_not_cute]

See, that makes everything sound a lot better! I'd probably listen to her more if she put things like that. [She laughs.] Maybe you should've been my caretaker instead of her.

[shadedsunlight]

[She laughs as well.] Sometimes it's all in the phrasing. But really, Pao-lin, being a proper young lady isn't about what you wear or having perfect manners. It's being able to handle everything with grace and composure and making yourself heard and known without making a scene.

[i_am_not_cute]

...I bet that's easier said than done, right?

[shadedsunlight]

Always is, but you'll get it in time. However, most importantly? Be you.

[i_am_not_cute]

Be me, huh... [But sometimes I don't know what kind of "me" I want to be.] I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, Miss Ginia. [She eyes the dirty dishes piled on the nearby table.] Ah, would you be able to help me carry some of these back to the kitchen...?

[shadedsunlight]

Of course, Pao-lin. [Ginia glances over at the plates and nods, quickly picking up a stack herself.] Careful, work too hard and I might have to hire you at Cloud Nine. [She teases, she teases, but good help is always appreciated.]

[i_am_not_cute]

[She laughs as she picks up the remaining stack and begins to make her way over to the kitchen.]

Only if it pays me better than being a Hero!

[More teasing. It's not something she's done a lot. But given her lack of peers back home in Sternbild and the boundaries that still existed in some minute form between herself and her older co-workers, she's had very little opportunity thus far to really engage in it.]

[shadedsunlight]

Afraid I can't do much about money, but you could take home food and drinks after your shift.

[i_am_not_cute]

Hehe, that sounds great! Though I'm trying to learn how to cook my own food, too.

[shadedsunlight]

It's a good thing to know, cooking. Taking raw ingredients, mixing them together, creating some delicious, it's quite nice.

[i_am_not_cute]

[Nod.] Usually Natasha cooks or takes me out to eat, and I'm usually busy with other things so I didn't really cook that much before I came to Luceti. [Laugh.] I think I could just go to Seventh Heaven or Azzip all the time here, but since groceries are free and I don't have to do stuff for HeroTV, I figured I might as well try it out now.

[shadedsunlight]

What kind have things have you been trying to cook? And if you want, I could give you suggestions. [And huzzah, the kitchen! Ginia sets the dishes down on one of the racks.]

[i_am_not_cute]

[Pao-Lin follows suit with the dishes, carefully moving some things around so they'll fit and not topple over.]

I just started with the cookies and stuff for Christmas because I thought those would be easy enough, but I guess I should learn something that isn't dessert, right?