"Not at all." Ever observant and intuitive Sephiroth had noticed the drop in the tone that their conversation had started to bring about. In an attempt to keep something of a good spirit up, he raised his glass and saluted it down towards Ales before flashing a fleeting smile and taking a sip. Silver bangs dipped forwards and back to their rightful place with the motion, the color almost seemed to glisten with the twinkling lights behind it and above him.

"There has been a lot-" Sephiroth found he had to swallow again in the aftertaste of the whiskey that time, like the comment had made it stick in his throat some. He abruptly cleared his throat and then continued.

"-there is a lot that has happened, it's true. But I believe it's something of the spirit of this season to look forward at least with a measure of positive thinking."