melodiesoflife | Christmas Party & Cheer

Christmas Party & Cheer

WHO: OPEN
WHEN: FORWARD DATED: December 22nd
WHERE: Christmas Town
WHAT: Celebrating the snow, the holidays, good cheery, warm fires and friends.
WARNING: Mistletoe?

With Rukia's help they were able to find a large enough hall in Christmas Town to throw the party. Zelda had set it for this day since a group of brave heroes were going to set out on the 24th. She had made sure that everything was perfect and of course everyone was invited. There were at least six decorated trees with polished silver and gold ornaments hanging from their branches. Scarlet red ribbons decorated the trees and tables with large bows tying the streaming trails together.

There was one very large tree at the halls center and there were a few presents around the bottom for those who needed a place to put gifts. At it's top was a large pointed star.

Champagne and small finger snacks were set on the tables and a part of the room was cleared for those who wanted to dance. Zelda was even able to hire a few people to play Christmas songs throughout the night. There was a table dedicated to sweets with cookies, cakes, small pies and other wonderful treats spread out for people to try.

Among the decorations was mistletoe. This little plant hung above the doorways waiting for any pair who happens to be caught in their hold. Most of the mistletoe was thanks to Minako but Zelda might have put up one sprig at the entrance to the party; it's all in good fun and kisses on the hand or cheek are perfectly acceptable.

[ooc: feel free to make open posts and tag around! It's a party!]

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Oh but, Sephiroth should know that that kind of behavior never really deterred Selen from approaching him. She's been quite used to his personality at this point, and while they didn't know each other on an extremely personal, level, Selen still considered him a good friend and a formidable ally.

Now that she completely understood what the mistletoe was for, she waltzed over to him just a tad bit quicker. There's a cheerful smile plastered on her face as he attempted to avoid eye contact with her. Unfortunately, she wasn't going to let him get away that easily. If it helped to get another glass of alcohol, Selen was all for it. She was meaning to get something to sip on herself.

Selen greeted him as she stopped close enough to have a conversation but far enough so that Sephiroth had his own personal space from her.

"Good evening Sephiroth."

She mused.

Maybe if he just appeared to be lost in his own thoughts, as prickly and uncomfortable as they tended to be, she'd just give him a once over and move on to a conversation with someone a little more...productive at reciprocating the same?

No such luck.

"Good Evening Selen." He left it long enough, the reply, if it had been left any longer he would have been slipping towards being impolite and Sephiroth knew that. As always, his pristine sense of good manners eventually got the better of him. It was rude to ignore her and this was a social event.

He glimpsed up, just fleetingly at her face and flashed his standard smile of a greeting before -as if looking for an excuse not to look her in the eye- Sephiroth looked passed her and out over the room again. There wasn't hint of any green curls in his immediate line of sight; it made him concerned for an instant but there was no need for him to be.

"Are you enjoying the party?"

Boy, she sure knows when she she's not wanted, and what does Selen do? She dives into the awkwardness all the same. There's no trace of offense on her face as she waited patiently for him to speak./

Maybe she did something wrong for him to advert his gaze from her, but at leas the the man was able to greet her in some way. Even if he wanted to be rude towards Selen, she did't seem the least bit hurt by it. Everyone had their reasons and had their own reactions to certain things. She was also pretty sure that something about what happened earlier would be part of the reason why he was avoiding her. She was chock full of curious questions and comments for him. Some of which she would save for another date.

Selen's smile did not waver as he asked her about the party, "It's quite fascinating. I suppose I could say more curious and intrigued than enjoyment, however."

She replied placing a hand on her chin, "What about yourself. It seemed like tonight is quite eventful for you."

He wasn't trying to avoid Selen specifically, but ever since it had happened earlier he'd wavered between feeling rather proud of it and just wanting the floor to swallow him up. Terra was so fragile and innocent; what was he thinking? Truth was it had happened without very much thought at all. It'd be completely his own fault if she'd never speak to him again, and he wouldn't blame her at all.

It was unlike Sephiroth to be so impulsive and reckless like that and that fact in itself continued to bug at him.

He was thankful Selen didn't seem to be asking directly about it, even if she did imply heavily in her inquiry back at him. Sephiroth 'hm'-ed a small agreement about how intriguing the party was, what with all the festive decor he also wasn't too used to, before taking a moment to consider a suitable answer he could give. At least he'd given up actively looking for Terra amidst the crowd for the time being and looked for all appearances willing to engage in a conversation with Selen for a little while.

"That's one way of putting it. I-" Why was it his pulse threatened to rush up into his face every time he thought about it? It was a good thing that between the lighting and his pale pallor that blushing wasn't a noticeable trait.

"-I didn't intend for it to be."

Terra was a rather innocent individual, but her purity makes her very likable. She's a kind hearted girl and Selen couldn't imagine her not wanting to speak to Sephiroth again after his romantic approach, in which Selen would save the teasing for a bit longer. Though, she was surprised to see someone like him behave in such a manner but people are full of surprises.

He didn't really strike her as an impulsive person so she was confused. However, when an individual had strong feelings towards someone, it's hard to maintain your usual composure. It was perfectly understandable according to Selen's own logic. Selen felt like she had behaved out of character when it concerned her significant other, but the differences were subtle. It was much easier to not directly state what she had seen happen. It might be easier to carry a conversation

She was there to converse, but she didn't want to make him feel too uncomfortable.

"I think it's quite alright. Sometimes you do things you don't normally do. She must be really important."

The woman replied with a smile on her face as she disregarded the faint color in his face. It was better not to mention how flustered he looked right now. It did put the thought of Sephiroth being quite cute in her vocabulary.

Therein lay the fact that Sephiroth could be more of an impulsive person than he generally let himself be, quite against that bastion of self-control that he made himself up to be. Whether it be over his own thoughts and actions, recently that control over inexplicable feelings had waned a great deal in the months since their return from the past.

He had days where he might be even more stone-wall than he had ever been, as if to make up for those days where he knows he's been over-sensitive. To make it worse, such hair-trigger moods were generally triggered over concerns that really were not relevant if one took a logical viewpoint towards them, which just further flared the confusion and frustration with himself for not keeping a clear head.

"I-" The argument about it fell flat, but it was a few more seconds before he was able to make himself take a breath and add a further comment. The very discreet flush to his face passed back to normal in the meantime, as the edges to his nose crinkled up while he fought over what to reply with. It was difficult to pin down, exactly, but there was one fact true enough.

"-yes. She is important to me."

Selen supposed she could understand those kinds of feelings he had sometimes. She was always carefree and very much indifferent about many things, however there were always a few triggers that would sometimes make her appear to be a completely different person. Sometimes it was to be expected and other times it could be something simple as having a bad day. Humans like herself and Sephiroth were fascinating. They were able to grow adapt, and change with the seasons, years and so forth.

She was never impatient when talking to him, giving him the respect he deserved and waiting for his earnest reply to her question. Perhaps, she had worded it too strangely, or maybe it felt a little too straight forward? Either way, she waited until he spoke again and she smiled at the response. Honesty, was always a good plus for her. She liked it when people were honest.

"You should cherish her more and more if she is. You'll never know what might happen," she replied, softening her gaze some, "She's a sweet girl and she's rather important to me too."

She chuckled, but of course the importance of Terra to Selen was a whole different kind of importance compared to Sephiroth's but it was all the same in some form or way.

It was perhaps a little of both. Selen's words hadn't lost any of their meaning in expression, in fact Sephiroth had understood her entirely. His potential argument had come in when he'd tried to apply that observation to his own actions. He still didn't know a great deal about how he felt about Terra, and that in itself came with it's own world worth of concerns and questions. Could he continue to let himself be so attached to another person on such a growing emotional level? What about if someone wanted to use that to hurt her? To hurt him? Could Sephiroth deal with the betrayal again, that he felt would be an inevitable still?

There were very many reasons why he'd been stalwart in keeping himself to himself. Especially ever since Angeal yet again passed into stasis. It seemed he was fated to exist on Crystallis alone, without those two whom he had once treasured. Their stone-like gazes forever judging him, goading him. Reminding him of what, of who, he was.

A small frown pulled at the space between Sephiroth's eyes as Selen mentioned how Terra was also important to her. It raised a moment later and he couldn't resist to smile a little. It was somewhere between knowing and a little sheepish; quite a strange twist of his lower lip almost as if he were chewing on it.

"I do my very best to protect her." The smile faltered a little, though he did not look away just yet. "Though that's been rather difficult, as of late."

Those are always the thoughts that plague the minds of many. It's the thought of possibly putting them in danger and exposing weakness. Especially, if the individual has a soft place in their hearts.

Selen knew that she would feel the same way with those kinds of feelings. It's honestly hard to determine what would happen from one point to another. The good thing about having someone to care for is that they always made the days glow and sparkle. At least, that's how Selen thought about it. She wondered if Sephiroth's days were brightened by the presence of someone he cared about? Something she'd try her best to not ask too soon.

Ah, there's a smile. Selen hardly saw the man with a smile on his face. At least, one that seemed rather warm. She definitely felt happier knowing that brought a smile to his face. She returns the smile as well. It was strange the smile, but it didn't change that he seemed content.

"Of course. I will be relying on you to do so. I will do the same as well."

She chimed, though her protection was definitely different from Sephiroth's in many ways, "Difficult you say? In what way?" she mused, her smile remained but her tone seemed a little more concerned.

Edited 2016-01-22 04:49 (UTC)

If one thing were true, no matter how complicated or awkward his growing relationship with Terra was, smiles were becoming more common than the permanent frown or scrutinizing looks he was prone to wearing. He wouldn't answer Selen even if she did bring it up, but the green-haired girl had brought a light into his life, he was starting to believe, that he wouldn't be able to live without.

However, it felt good to know that Selen were also to look out for Terra. Not that he couldn't handle her protection exclusively if he set all of his time toward it; the reality was, though, that would be an impossibility.

"I spend a great deal of my time away from Aqures Ixen."

Sephiroth paused, as if to consider if he would allow Selen to know more of the details. A few seconds passed while he made that call; the woman had not ever done anything but try and support him-

"While serving in the military recently has me returning more often, on other duties, often I find it hard pushed to spare the time that I feel I should."

Selen didn't need to ask him those kinds of questions. She believed it was pretty obvious on the expression she wore. Honestly, since she had known him, he's never smiled so much before. She was happy to see that he's happy. Beyond that she wouldn't pry or ask. She might tease though since it would make it fun for her.

Of course, she'd be light about it since her teasing can be a little bit rough too. Sometimes it could offend others. She's done it several times to him after all and she's still learning about how he works as person.

"I see. You're quite busy as I recall. I often don't see you for days, if not weeks or months if we're going to the extremes," she replied chuckling. She was joking partially about the long period of time but she knew he went on long expeditions. Selen waited for him to continue as she watched the mingling group of people around them.

"I see, so you aren't always around or able to be around due to that."

For the majority of the time Sephiroth liked to think he'd grown a thicker skin when it came to good nature-d taps or jabs to his raw, over-sensitive pride, but the reality was that his mood still tended to swing a little. Sometimes the most offhand comment could be blown out of all proportion when it wasn't intended personally, and other times he could take harsh criticism with little more reaction than a quick brush off. It really had been touch and go over the last few months.

Still, he'd not really popped at anyone inadvertently; however he was managing his bad days privately - in public he seemed to be regaining a great deal of the silent confidence he'd once coveted. There was nothing like carrying on in doing what he knew he was good at, for repairing a battered sense of identity. Not so much, in mingling at a Starlight party where he didn't particularly feel like he fitted in with all the revelry.

"I'm still working to find that...how do you call it: 'Work-life balance'?" It sounded a little contradictory in the way that Sephiroth said it but it was true enough. It was no small challenge for the SOLDIER who'd never taken leave, period. Then again, he'd never had so much he wanted to get done with his time, either.

"It results in a fair bit of traveling around."

In which was fine. Selen was the type of person that would joke and jab harshly at others. It's only natural for him to get upset. She's learned quite a lot from spending time with him at least. There wouldn't be too many rude jabs. Though, she couldn't promise to stop them completely. Sometimes she might just take a jab for the sake of lightening the mood.

He did seem to be in better spirits lately too and it's probably not just because of Terra. However, Selen assumed that the girl had some hand in the matter as well. Sephiroth definitely seemed a little different in a good way. She's rather enjoying their conversation since it's rare that they even talk about such things as feelings or emotions.

"Ah, yes the complicated balance that we work-a-holics need to grasp better. I can't say I'm good at it either. I'm still trying to find a balance myself."

She replied with a hand to her chin, "Yes, I can see that it can be a problem of sorts. You always have to make time for rest and relaxation~"

"A balance that has never existed for me before," He adds to her comment, feeling a little bit more grounded in that Selen had referred to herself as a workaholic as well. Quite often, Sephiroth's dutiful leaning in life wasn't understood, especially by those who didn't know him very well.

Selen were still one of those individuals just on the inside of his acquaintance 'fringe' but at least she hadn't pushed or even encouraged him to open up a little more. Quite the opposite, if anything Selen had been quite flexible and impervious to his various moods.

"Rest and relaxation was always the polite way of excusing oneself for being lazy."

"I see. It can be complicated if there wasn't a balance. You must have been really busy in your own world to not have time to yourself," and she didn't mean it in any bad way. It was just a statement from what she deducted with their ongoing conversation. Selen always somehow found time to rewind, but there were always those who worked themselves to the ground.

Selen understood that everyone had their reasons for being the way they were and not sharing certain information. It's not in her right to poke at his personal matters. If he chose to share with her, she would gladly accept. If he did not, it didn't seem to matter to her. He never once got into her business either. It made it hard to understand him but she was doing what she could and flexibility was part of her who she was.

"Well, I suppose to put it bluntly, you probably need to be lazy once in a while."

She replied since he wasn't taking the nicer terms for it, "There isn't a problem with wanting to be lazy. It seems like you worked pretty hard in general. Why not take a break? Then again, I'm quite blunt. My apologies if it seems to forward."

Edited 2016-02-19 06:46 (UTC)

Sephiroth couldn't really comment further to that, it was true that he'd never been one to keep a clean schedule. Back on his home-world, if he ever found himself without something to do then he often went out of his way to find something. It was just his way of life that had inevitably, if eventually, snaked its way into defining his life on Crystallis - as a Hero of Light or not.

Having the choice to do what he wanted with his own time was still, even such a long time on, difficult for him to get to grips with sometimes.

"Perhaps. We've come to this village for the holidays to take something of a break, after all. But it's difficult to...switch off."

The curse of being active all of the time. It seemed like Selen shared those sentiments with him. Of course, she also tried to find things to do when she wasn't busy as well, and sometimes that might be a little more trouble than she asked for. However, here in Crystallis, everything was widely different. It was hard to adjust but she was getting the hang of it slowly, while neurotically doing what she did best.

"Hmm, perhaps that is so. Maybe they think we work too hard and deserve a break of some sort!" she chuckled at his comment, trying to make light of the situation.

"Yes, it is difficult if you're always on the go."

They weren't so entirely different in that regard then, though in Sephiroth's case he had a habit of packing his schedule so full that there wasn't much time at all to be idly sat around doing whatever just popped into his head.

"Starlight is one of those occasions where everyone seems to take a collective break." He flashed a smile again at Selen's chuckle and rolled his shoulders back for a moment, as if working a knot of tension that eventually always seemed to find its way back there.

His eyes cast over the room briefly and rested on one of the buffet tables. Perhaps he should at least take something of the festive goodies that a lot of people had taken the time to lay out.

"Given then, it might seem even rude, to ignore such an opportunity."

Perhaps, that's why Selen can understand some of his concerns. Either way, she was content to understand him to some extent. He was a very hard character to read. She would never stop stating that fact. However, with that being said, he was also very good with small talk from time to time.

"Yes, it seems that way," she replied nodding her head. Ah, that smile. She found it rather dashing on him. A man always looked his best when he was smiling after all. Of course, Selen had her own sweetheart to think about in that way. She always thought the younger generation of people were rather cute..

"That is true. I suppose we both should enjoy the view and partake in the festivities no?" she chimed.

Small talk was one of those skills he hadn't come with, but needs must within Crystallis seemed to have taught him a thing or two about how to continue conversations when the situation called for it. Not that he had changed much socially, but he was trying where before he wouldn't have.

"One might be convinced to, perhaps." And with that Sephiroth offered a sharp nod to Selen and made to stride away from her across to the other side of the room.

It did seem, a little, that something distracting progressively wound its way to the front of his mind throughout the evening but Selen would have to stay tuned to catch what it was!

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Christmas Party & Cheer

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