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

[contentedly]

[...something with caffeine then. At least for her. She takes the tea out and goes to sit across from him.]

That sounds nice. It's a funny year to be celebrating - year four.

[Kind of amazing that the residents celebrate it at all, actually.]

[ex_affability656]

[He nods.] It is. Thinking that this place has only been around for four years...well, it raises a lot of questions.

[...But he isn't to trudge this conversation down my asking unnecessary questions. So instead he smiles.] Still--I'm glad we get to celebrate it.

[contentedly]

Mmm. [A smile.] I think it speaks well of everyone, that they're willing to celebrate in a place where they're being held against their will.

It reminds all of us for hope for tomorrow, I suppose.

[ex_affability656]

Exactly. A brand new year and a brand new day. What's more promising than hoping for that?

[Even if there's no telling when the person dearest to you might up and vanish. That's exactly why they have to hold onto hope.]

[contentedly]

[She reaches over to take his hand.]

Nothing.

[She's trying. She's trying so hard.]

[ex_affability656]

[You have no idea how much that means to him. He squeezes her hand.]

And a chance to make new memories, right?

[Yes, he's leading into something here...]

[contentedly]

[She's starting to get that feeling, yes.]

For as long as we can keep them, yes.

[...he doesn't have a new camera, does he?]

[ex_affability656]

[Nope, but you're not too far off!]

Right. Well, I thought of a way that can help us remember. ...In case we ever forget.

[He's hoping it doesn't even have to come to that, though.]

[contentedly]

[She leans forward a little, almost scared to hope.]

Really? What is it?

[ex_affability656]

I'll go grab it. It's in the other room.

[He gets up, regretfully letting go of her hand to duck into the living room. IT'S HIDDEN IN A VERY SECRET SPOT. But when he appears again, he's carrying something behind his back with a grin on his face.]

[contentedly]

[She twists around to follow him.]

What is it?

[ex_affability656]

Well...

[He whips out the surprise from behind his back--a large, hardbound book with a picture of the three of them slipped into the window on the cover.]

At first I thought just a photo album would be a good idea. But then I thought, why stop with just pictures? If...if we really weren't able to remember something--[Just like he couldn't, even with all the pictures he'd seen]--words could help, too.

[He leafs through the pages--all of them blank. Blank slates for new a hundred new memories they'd never have to lose as long as they had this.]

...I thought it'd be something we could work on. Together.

[contentedly]

Oh. Oh, Maes.

[He should be be proud. He got an immediate reaction. She rises to walk over by him and take the book.]

What a good idea.

[ex_affability656]

[He is proud. And his goofy smile only grows as he sees her excitement in turn.]

Really? I'm glad you think so! Even Elicia can help us with it. That way it will have a piece of all of us.

[In case we can't be together.]

1/2

[contentedly]

I think she would like that very much. [Warm. Loving glance.]

[contentedly]

[...at which point the tea kettle whistles.]

Oh. I should get that.

[Gonna let her go or make a move, sir?]

[ex_affability656]

[Not before he leans in to catch her on the cheek with a kiss as she goes. He just can't help it after how happy she looked about his idea.]

[contentedly]

[Direct hit! She smiles at him and moves away to get the tea, her heart beating a little bit faster.

Careful, Gracia. Careful.]

I thought some Assam would be nice. [...but she can't help herself.] Did you already start taking pictures for the book?

[ex_affability656]

[He takes a seat back at the table, setting the book down there, still smiling.]

As a matter of fact, I have. I've got a small stash of pictures I've taken since I arrived that we can use. But we can go back even further than that, if you want.

[And by small stash he means "hoards and hoards", of course.]

[contentedly]

We'll have to look through them later. [A "small stash" huh? Well. At least she can think of a way to occupy them for the rest of the night...

She finishes pouring the tea and brings it over to the table.]

What time do you think the fireworks will start?

[ex_affability656]

[He glances at the wall clock--just after eleven.]

Probably closer to midnight, I'd think--eleven forty-five, or sometime around then. It might just be a matter of waiting until we hear them.

[contentedly]

Would you like to start looking through the pictures until then? [Since they decided to stay up and all... unless he's got other ideas of how they should be occupying their time...]

[ex_affability656]

[He takes a sip of tea--perfect as always--before practically jumping at the idea and already heading back to the desk in the living room where he's got them cooped up.]

That's a wonderful idea! Hang on, I'll just--

[Come back with packets and packets of pictures now.]

[contentedly]

[...oh my.]

When did you even take all of these?

[ex_affability656]

[When he makes it back to the table and starts to uncover them, it becomes quite obvious that the subject matter of many of the pictures is, of course, Elicia.]

Oh, you know, just here and there when I saw something that needing a picture taken of it. The snow sets a nice stage for a lot of photo opportunities!

[In fact, they could probably fill the book with pictures of just Elicia playing in the snow.]