melodiesoflife | Event || The New Year

Event || The New Year

Characters: Anyone!
Where: The Enterprise.
When: The Night from December 31st to January 1st.
Summary: A Ball aboard the Enterprise, for well-dressed (mostly) Heroes of Light and their friends who want to dance and (especially) eat for free.
Warning: Nothing.

While the passing from a year to another isn't as big of an event as the Starlight Celebration, it is no reason to pass up an ocasion to celebrate and have fun. There are fireworks in all major cities and various activities to enjoy. Noticeably, there are gatherings of people in Aqures Ixen and Trano Golsaucia in particular, if only to conclude what is one of the most celebrated week in the year, and wish to each other the best possible year to come-- Though most people are worried about what's to come soon. After all, the end might be nigh with the Calamity about to take over the planet...

To celebrate this, the Heroes of Light have all been invited to stay aboard the Enterprise for a particularly prestigious and animated Ball. Indeed, the Enterprise will from Aqures Ixen and go all the way to Mysidia at midnight-- This way, New Year is going to last even longer than normal thanks to the magic of timezones.

There are tables with foods for everyone to eat and of course, music for people to dance together if they so wish. There is also a consequent number of chairs lined up, for all those who refuse to dance or are too awkward to do so.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

1. DANCING

Chairs? Chairs are for the weak! Rukia had prepared well for this moment, having paid many visits to Chiaki's arcade to practice on the DDR machine. She also got to learn some steps from Levy. Coupled with what she remembered from the television shows when she lived with Ichigo's family, the shinigami was ready to face her greatest opponent of the evening: The Dancefloor.

And if you thought she didn't know how to dance, you'd be dead wrong. Her knee-length skirt swished against her leggings with her measured steps, the long sleeves of her blouse rolled up to let her thin arms breathe. She left her long vest open, since she knew it wouldn't be long before the dance warmed her up to the point of being uncomfortable.

Of course, when a slow song came up, she trotted away to drink some water and enjoy a snack.

2. ON DECK

While Rukia had certainly been focused for a while on making sure she had passable dancing skills in order to better fit in with her fellow Heroes, it wasn't really the main reason she'd come aboard the ship. Certainly it was pleasant to spend time with her friends, but she hadn't forgotten the Sage's warning. It had clung to her like a nasty film that wasn't easily washed away, no matter how jovial the parties and holiday traditions might be.

The Calamity was moving, and soon. She walked up to the main deck of the Enterprise, bathed in starlight, and closed her eyes as she welcomed the chilly winter breeze on her hot, sweat-streaked face. She couldn't stay out here too long, as the chill would soon replace the accumulated heat, but for now, she wanted nothing more than a breath of fresh air and to take in the view of the world below.

In the distance she could see the brightly colored sparks of the Trano Golsaucia fireworks, dwindling in size the further the ship carried them. She held the railing tightly in her hands, watching the bursts of blue and silver in perfect silence. When the ship arrived in Mysidia, she would disembark, and remain until the Sage allowed her and the others the second audience he had promised. When that would be, she didn't know. She didn't want to push him. It would do her good to learn more about this new place in any case, there were many things she needed to do: train to communicate with Hades, for one. Find a dinosaur to serve as her Beastmaster's companion, for another. Besides, Mysidia had its share of problems as well. As a Hero of Light, it was her duty to offer what aid and assistance she could.

But this time, she'd decline the offer of drinks with the Bangaa warriors, she thought with a little smile.

The fireworks were too far away to be heard, but the dance of gold and pink took away some of the tension in her small shoulders. A new year... What would this one bring? Would they make any progress toward the salvation of this planet, as well as their own? She prayed that it would.

And so she stayed by the railing, half an ear turned to the muffled music coming from the decks below, as she mulled over her tangled thoughts. She'd long since forgotten the cold, even though her arms were laced with goosebumps.

There was something spectacular about lingering up on deck rather than being subjected to the potentially toxic social environment which it could turn into - he had his own allocated room aboard the Enterprise which he could retreat to but he'd miss all of it if he just stayed there all evening. What -indeed- would have been the point coming at all if he were just to stay there?

The fireworks going off around Trano Golsaucia were far enough away to seem minuscule in the cold night sky but it didn't take much imagination at all to smile -to himself- at how the bright colors might lighten the spirits of all that watched them.

Sephiroth were, himself, draped forwards with his forearms rested atop the railing. A half-empty flute of non-discernible liquid between the fingers of one hand; though most of his hands were hidden within the long sleeves of his coat. A thicker, winter coat as fitting for the frigid temperature outside. The overlong tail of silver hair all pulled down forwards over a shoulder, the chilly air lifting a few strands every so often.

It was silly to think he hadn't noticed someone else step into his vicinity, but like Rukia he seemed for the most part captured in his own thoughts.

Well, it was pretty dark, and Rukia didn't having anything truly notable about her that would cause her to stand out. But she was getting cold, so it was probably time to return to her quarters so she could gather her things. It wouldn't be much longer before they arrived in Mysidia, where she'd have to rent a room at the inn.

Straightening, she started to pull away when she noticed that someone else had come up on deck to be silent and pensive.

Honestly, she kind of wanted to leave Sephiroth to his thoughts. He looked as if he wanted very much to be alone for a while, and she wasn't so rude as to keep bothering him every time she caught him on his own. But if he was in need of someone to speak with, far be it from her to leave him lonely, since she was all too familiar with the pain of solitude.

"Happy New Year," she nodded at him as she paused halfway to the rear cabin. She'd see how he reacted to that before deciding if she would be a bother or a help by engaging in further conversation.

Solitude was a state that quite often he'd retreat himself back into. Any pain that came with it was therefore self-inflicted and had no cause to have attention drawn to it. But that wasn't really Sephiroth's reason for doing so. Before Crystallis, he'd always been better in his own company than in that of a group; with two notable exceptions.

As if his ears perked up at the greeting was passed his way, Sephiroth seemed to snap out of whatever thought he'd been chewing over as he blinked and straightened himself up a little while turning his head to see Rukia. It was like he hadn't even been breathing, as now he took a breath and it misted up between them.

"Oh. And to you Rukia-"

Bare fingertips brought the small glass flute forwards, Sephiroth brought it up and took a sip; a flash of white visible across the back of his knuckles as he did so. It didn't seem sparkling enough to be champagne, though. Then looked over Rukia more, catching up to how cold she appeared. No surprise, it was cold out here above the clouds.

"-did you bring a coat?"

Edited 2016-01-02 21:45 (UTC)

She shook her head and folded her arms with a smile. "I came above deck to cool off for a bit. I may have overdone it a little." The cold didn't truly bother her, but she wasn't impervious to it, especially in this mortal body.

He looked plenty warm, though. Clearly he'd planned to be out here for quite some time. It was probably a safe bet that he didn't plan to go below deck where they could converse at a more reasonable temperature, then.

Her eyes caught sight of what appeared to be bandages, but she didn't comment on it just yet. Strange. He was usually careful enough to avoid injuries while training. What happened to his hand?

"Are you traveling to Mysidia, or did you come as a chaperon again?"

"Hm." He could appreciate that and expressed such with a short nod. It was all the more reason why he'd wrapped up warm before venturing out onto the deck; it was his second winter in Crystallis and already knew well enough that he could simply ignore the cold like he might have been able to before.

He parted lips as if to offer some advise in terms of suggesting that Rukia not stay out in the cold for too long, but then thought better of it. It wasn't his place to presume that anyone else didn't know how to look after themselves. A chill rushed across his face in a cold breeze though as it ripped it's way across from over the railing, stirring the bangs on either side of his face. Even he would have to retreat below deck before very much longer.

"I suppose it's a little of both, and then some." Sephiroth disguised what could have been a shiver as a light shrug. "I intend to briefly stop in Mysidia and return on the 2nd. Just to take a scope of how things are there, I suppose."

"That isn't long," Rukia noted, folding her arms on the railing to lean against it. "The Enterprise will be docking overnight, then?" She assumed as much, as she didn't think the ship would make another trip the very next day. A shame, she could have stayed on board and saved herself a little gil. But she'd already sent word ahead and made the reservation, so she supposed she would keep it. It was probably safer that way in any case, on the rare chance that she overslept and missed the chance to settle into the city.

"I plan on making another report describing the area," she indicated. "I wouldn't want to be redundant with my information, however. Are there any areas in particular you'll be covering?"

She'd wanted to make sketches of the four races that lived there, but in all seriousness, her art style would make that difficult, as she wouldn't be allowed to take any liberties to make them appear as bunnies and bears the way she typically did.

"According to the schedule, that seems to be the plan, yes." It followed with a nod, at least that were a fact that he were certain of.

Sephiroth continued to watch Rukia for a few moments before a new firework lighting up the sky off near the horizon caught his attention. He looked over the bright pink spark as it exploded and multiple trails seemed to fall back to the ground below before lowering his gaze and then looking back to the side at her again.

"My initial report I submitted was more of an overview really-" Even if it had been quite thick and extensive for what it was being as he was highly attentive to detail like that. "-I'm sure that any and all additional reports would only serve to deepen the overall knowledge of the area."

Perhaps it was a fairly flat and obvious reply, but it was true all the same. Sephiroth lightly smiled as if to further encourage Rukia. As Colonel now, he had more than enough to be getting on with back in Esdham before too long; he'd already been on leave since the 18th.

"It will be some time before I'm otherwise back in Mysidia. Though I do intend to come for whatever it is the Sage might offer us in terms of answers."

"All right," she agreed, her smile widening just fractionally. "As long as I'm not creating too much overlap." Maybe she'd give Sephiroth a sneak preview just in case he managed to turn in his report before she did, so she would know which areas to skim, or skip altogether.

Her hand lifted to rest against her chin as he brought up the sage, and she frowned a little. She hadn't missed Sephiroth's abrupt departure, but she hadn't wanted to follow suit and seem disrespectful to the one person who seemed willing to at least provide them some measure of knowledge that they severely lacked.

There was also the matter of that window, but she assumed it had something to do with the night he'd been manipulated and controlled over a year ago. Why anyone would wish to capture that event in stained glass, she didn't know. It was rather gruesome.

"Do you think he's telling the truth? About the movement of the Calamity this month," she asked, her smile pulling into a pensive frown. "Part of me hopes that he's a charlatan, but he did seem to know a great deal about us, calling us by name when we'd never met before."

It went without saying that, should Rukia just ask it of him, Sephiroth would indeed give any report a once over. A second pair of eyes could make the world of difference and he'd also be able to guide her towards any areas which might need further extrapolation. He's a lot of experience, and not just with regards to being the Crystillian veteran that he was.

He felt a little guilty, lowering the mood on such an evening, but he has a rather large issue in turning off. Perhaps it wasn't appropriate to discuss right now but he'd already made the comment now.

"I think the consequences are too much to just ignore. We'll know one way or another soon enough; and then question the source of such claims." Or at least, he would. He suspected there was an awful lot more that the Sage might be keeping from them.

"It's facts like that, that only serve to heighten my suspicion."

"Agreed," she said with a small frown. "And it might do us well to accept what he tells us with some degree of caution. The Heroes have been betrayed before by one who claimed to be an ally. It may happen again."

So as long as at least one of them, or two of them even, remained a little on the wary side, it would probably be fine.

"Still," Rukia sighed, stepping back from the railing as she hugged her arms, "if what he says is true, we might at last have some direction and knowledge as to what we must do next. It would be a large step on the right path. I can't help hoping that his words are honest."

"Exactly." All of Rukia's points voiced were sound ones, and rather similar to concerns that Sephiroth himself wrestled with more often than he really let on. He were one of those individuals who really found it hard to stop thinking quite so hard.

The difference being, Sephiroth had certain reservations with regard to most Heroes of Light and their capability at dealing with the circumstances as they were. It was borne from a long-time habit of his, to take everything on personally to make sure goals were achieved. A confidence he didn't really hold that much of, anymore.

He noted that she stepped back and turned with her, leaning back firmly against the railing. He didn't feel so cold thanks to his coat, but seeing someone with so much less on and obviously feeling it made him feel it more.

"We should get inside, before we freeze out here."

"Ah," she agreed with a smile, nodding. "That might be best." She paused for a moment, quietly debating whether she should return to the party. It was already quite late, and she wished to be well rested when she disembarked...at least, rested enough that she would still be lucid when she reserved her hotel room.

It was time to turn in, she decided.

"It was good speaking with you, as always. Rest well." She lingered in the entryway, just long enough to give his hand one last glance. "I hope your hand heals soon." Then she held the banister and descended to the decks below, so she could wash up and change into some warm pajamas.

When Rukia comes off the dance floor at the start of a slow song, she can find Sparks hanging out near the drinks table. He doesn't really have a clue on how to dance to any kind of music, but he's not about to tell anyone that He's h9onestly surprised to see Rukia dance like that, but then again, he'd probably think the same about almost anyone he knew being able to dance.

"Those're some moves ya got. Where'd ya learn how to do that?"

"Television and video games," she responded with no small degree of pride. She filled a cup of punch before turning to face her friend properly with a wide smile. She was a little short of breath, but once she'd had a chance to cool down for a bit, she'd head back out to the dancefloor. The activity was enjoyable, and an excellent means of obtaining a workout. It also improved her footwork, a necessary component of swordplay. That made dancing entertaining and practical.

"Chiaki constructed a dancing game at her shop. If you'd like to try it, I believe she said she would transfer it to our basement. You're welcome to visit whenever you find the time."

Sip.

"What about you?" Rukia's gaze shifted back to the few couples who weren't too embarrassed to seek a partner for the song and nodded at the floor. "Are you planning on doing any dancing tonight?" Surely not all of the heroes were so self-conscious and reserved that they wouldn't even try.

"A dancing game? Yeah sure, I'd give that a try." He would, too. Hopefully while no one's watching, to start.

Upon being asked about his dancing skills, though, Sparks awkwardly clears his throat as he thinks of how to spin this.

"Oh, I, uh. Ain't easy to dance while in a suit 'n such. So uh, not sure." Sparks wasn't reserved, but he was also not fond of anything that might bruise his giant ego. And it's not like he could fake being a good dancer, but he could try to dance around the subject, at least.

"It's not?" Rukia blinked, and furrowed her brow. Just how tight was his suit? Unless he was expected to do the splits, she was sure he'd be just fine. "You could take off the jacket, I suppose. It would get rather hot otherwise."

She threw back the small cup of punch and refilled it. Refreshing as it was, Rukia was still thirsty.

"I could teach you what basics I learned, if you wish. Slow songs in particular are very simple. I believe all you have to do is shift your weight and slowly move in a circle while remaining close to your partner."

"Oh, slow dancing?" He scoffs. "I can do that. Anyone can do that." That was the truth. Even middle schoolers could slow dance. That didn't mean they were good at it, though.

"So long as ya don't step on the other person's toes, yer doin' it right. Simple as that."

"Yes, that seems about all that is required," Rukia agreed with a nod. She might not have done it herself before, but she'd observed a few couples, none of them particularly skilled. "You've done it before?" That surprised her. "When?"

"Uh, well... Back in school?" It's been awhile. And it's not like he had much opportunity for dancing back on Mars, even if he wanted to.

"I mean, with work, dancin' is sorta the farthest thing from my mind. So."

"So," she echoed, looking back at the dancefloor. The sparse number of partners was laughably pitiful. Dancing together didn't necessarily dictate a romance, or even attraction. Perhaps they ought to set the proper example.

She turned to Sparks and offered her hand. "Shall we see what you remember, then?" Honestly, she would have liked to be indulged with a harmless dance between two friends. It would be one more experience she could finally claim to have enjoyed as a mortal.

Uh oh. The jig is up. Well, slow dancing he knows he could handle. Hopefully this was a long song.

After a moment, he nods and takes her hands. "Can't turn a lady down. Alright, let's do this." It's nothing exciting by any means, but he can at least handle the basics. Even if it's been a long time since he's danced, never been anything great at it, it was like riding a bike, right? You got rusty but the steps were still somewhere buried in muscle memory.

"Is that a fact," she chuckled. Rukia was definitely glad that he was taking the lead, as she was relying on him to direct the way she should stand and move. She cast another glance at the other couples to see how they were faring, and hesitated. Some danced in the classic position, with the lady's hand on the gentleman's shoulder, but others danced with both arms looped around the other. That seemed a little too intimate for the occasion. Unless Sparks had other aims, she would opt for the classical style, head tipped back so she could look up at her taller dance partner.

"Do the people of Mars often engage in dances like these?" she asked out of curiosity. She knew it was a planet, but as their version of Mars was completely barren of souls, shinigami rarely paid much attention to the cosmos.

That style was fine by him. He wasn't the sort of guy to make any untoward moves. Besides, he knows Rukia could kick his butt if he even tried.

"Uh, well, not super often, but sometimes the saloon would have 'em. Valentine's Day 'n stuff like that." Knowing Barkeep's tendency of trying to set people up, it's a surprise there wasn't one every other week.

"What about, y'know, Reapers. Doesn't sound like the kinda job that lends to a lotta social dances. Or social anything, really."

"I can't speak for the other divisions, but those held in the 13th were more socially oriented. Food and games, maybe a contest. We didn't really dance," she replied. From what Rukia knew of the noble families who were not soul reapers, a formal dance was held now and again, but neither she nor Byakuya had ever attended any events like that. Their duties kept them too busy.

She suspected Byakuya didn't really care much for the other nobles, as well, so that might have played a significant factor.

"So what's Valentine's Day about?" she beamed, curious to know about this cultural holiday that would prompt everyone to get together and dance.

Event || The New Year

Rukia Kuchiki - OPEN

[We have loads of threads already but- so what?]

Yeah, bring on the tags!

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