May the Best of your Todays be the Worst of your Tomorrows

[thespaceopera]

The morning of the final day of the year - called Last Eve - brings with it a soft, gentle chorus of bells. No matter what town or city you've found yourself in, the tradition is the same: a simple scale plays every hour throughout the day - a melodic, slow countdown to all the festivities to come tonight. People - especially children! - run through the streets ringing hand-held bells of their own, all in the name of good luck and best wishes for the upcoming year. Don't want to wait for the night to start the party? Don't worry! There's plenty to do all day long, too!


A ringing melody in the wind

You thought the festivals throughout the month were extravagant? Well, they're nothing compared to the parades today! Marching bands, performers, and dance crews show off routines they've been preparing for months, candy flies through the air for all of the parade-goers to catch and keep... The floats are elaborate and grand, with humongous shapes in bright colors. A lot of heart, soul, and expert craftsmanship went into these, and it shows. Some parades have set themes, others are just a representation of the towns that give them and what they've put together to share with everyone... but all of them are full of love, joy, and good luck wishes for the upcoming year. Maybe you're part of the parade - riding on a float, tossing out candy, singing or playing an instrument... or maybe you're just there to watch! No matter which way, it's going to be a good time.

The waters may be too cold to swim in, but that's why boats exist! Once the sun goes down, the natural glow of the water is even more breathtaking set against the black, starry skies -- and local tradition is to spend Last Eve out on the water in some way! From rowboats, paddle boats, and sailboats to motorized party boats with loudly blasting music and flashing lights, or huge luxury liners with all the fancy trimmings of fine dining and entertainment -- no matter what kind of boat you want, you're going to have a great time ringing in the new year on the water. Get your party boat on! Or, spend a romantic evening with your loved one on a crewed private charter! Or, row out on your own and meet up with other rowers. Bring snacks~ and a life vest - safety first!

The best part, though, isn't Last Eve... it's First Dawn. Once it gets closer and closer to midnight, and the bells begin to chime louder, and faster, and more jubilant... that's when the real light show begins.


Light up the skies!

Almost every inch of the night sky is covered in bright lights and brilliant hues as fireworks soar through the black. The breathtaking display reflects in the glowing waters, which seem to mimic all the colors back like a visual echo. And with the backdrop of the bells' song, this is how the new year comes to Libuscha IV.

So - Happy Last Eve, and Happy First Dawn. Enjoy your holiday, dear Fleet. ♥

------------

(( This post is a mingle for all of your New Year / Last Eve / First Dawn Celebration needs. Go forth and have fun! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us. o7

And on a final note: Happy New Year, Drift Fleet. ♥! Thank you for spending your RP time with us. We're absolutely convinced that you're all the best players out there, and we love you for coming on this journey with us. May the next year be full of fun, happiness, and of course, some shenanigans~ ))

Comments

[tsunergy]

I imagine so. We never really had much time for sight-seeing... we were always running from one disaster to the next no matter where we went. It's a wonder we weren't falling asleep where we stood by the time we reached Camlann.

[aspearing]

[ The word Camlann stirs something in her. She had searched for it for what felt like a long time. It's difficult to believe that they were able to find it.

Still, that's not what this conversation is about. ]

... I hope that... after everything, all of you will be able live peacefully.

[tsunergy]

Mm... I think widespread peace is a lot to ask for when the world is so big and there are so many different people living in it. Now that I know more, Elysia was a bit too idyllic- we were inexperienced, and you can't learn about coexistence just from old books. The outside world is more complicated than we could ever imagine.

[He smiles over at her.]

I do believe that we can manage to live happily, though. And of course you ought to include yourself in that.

[aspearing]

... I don't disagree that peace may be too idealistic to achieve in our lifetime, but... I don't think it's impossible. It's something that I believe that you, Sorey, and the others have been helping to fight towards.

It's something I wish to try to find a path towards, as well.

[tsunergy]

Hah... I'm probably too cynical. Can I blame Edna for that?

[Hed guess that he's spent the most time with her, out of everyone, aside from Sorey, so she's rubbed off on him a bit. Growing up with Gramps the way he is didn't always help, either.

...Oh, that's weird. It's the first time he's thought of Gramps where the sting of loss wasn't his immediate feeling. He's gonna hold on to that for a while, quietly.]

I like that you're optimistic about it- you and Sorey. It makes me hopeful about our future.

[aspearing]

I don't think it's bad to have an opposing view point. ... It can help those who are optimistic to stay grounded.

Though... I know that there's a lot of work ahead of us before peace can be attained.

[tsunergy]

No denying that. But we're well on our way, so I think we're in a pretty good state for that.

[Even... even without Sorey. And that's something he's still adjusting to, and will be for a long, long time. It's not a source of despair, though. He can't allow that to creep in.]

[aspearing]

That's true. We have Sorey to thank for much of that.

[tsunergy]

...Yeah.

[Mikleo purses his lips and crosses his arms, refocusing on the sky. He doesn't really want to think about the situation back home in relation to Sorey. It's still painful to consider what lies ahead.]

[aspearing]

[ She doesn't miss the way that Mikleo suddenly grows quiet. ]

I apologize. I hadn't meant to bring down the mood.

[tsunergy]

Ah... it's okay, Alisha. Not like mentioning Sorey is a downer or anything- he's here, after all.

[He forces himself to relax his posture, moving to sit down on the dock and dip his feet into the water. It's chilly, yet he hardly notices the cold. he knows it'll make him glow in a minute, but maybe that'll cheer her up again. Both of them, even.]

It's just something I need to get used to eventually.

[aspearing]

... Even so, if you're alright with it, I'm here for you if you wish to have a shoulder to lean on.

[ That much is the least she can do. She's well aware that Mikleo is strong, however. ]

[tsunergy]

Of course I'm alright with it.

[Mikleo sighs quietly, leans back to get a good look at her again.]

I depend on you a lot after... after Sorey goes to sleep. You and Rose, both. It was hard at first, I won't deny that- I wouldn't expect it to be easy. But the others... I don't think they really got it. They lived such long lives, they knew how to adjust to that kind of thing, how to wait for years and years for something to change. But me? I'd never lived without Sorey. I had no idea what I was doing.

[He turns back to the water, splashing a bit of it to watch the ripples. Between the light of the fireworks, his hair starts to glow.]

You didn't replace him or anything, and I appreciate your company in different ways than I do with him. You're an important friend to all of us. But you being human was... kind of an added comfort, I guess.

[aspearing]

... [ Alisha goes quiet then, looking to Mikleo. His words are a lot to take in, but they're touching all the same. She can't even begin to imagine how difficult it will be for Mikleo once Sorey is gone. There was never a moment that she saw them together that she didn't think that they were inseparable.

More than anything, she wants Sorey to succeed in his journey - but all the same... she wants Sorey to be able to live peacefully with those important to him. He deserves that much.

She hesitates for a moment before her hand moves to Mikleo's shoulder - expression soft. ]

... Rose and I would never try to take Sorey's place, but I can assure you that you won't be alone. Even if I cannot see you, you'll always be one of my closest friends. I'll be there in what ways that I can be.

And... we'll do what we can to continue to support Sorey, as well. I'm certain that that's also what Rose would want to do.

[tsunergy]

I know. You're working hard, both of you- you're doing incredibly. Honestly, it's what's kept me going sometimes.

[He reaches up to pat the hand on his shoulder, smiling gratefully. If Sorey wants more proof that humans and seraphim can live in harmony, he ought to be looking at them as much as the rest of the world.]

Because we're so close, it's easy for me to forget... everyone else misses him, too. But no one's given up, no one's doing any less than their best. So I have to keep it up, too.

[aspearing]

[ She can't help but think of that strength as inspiring, in a way. No matter what happens... she can tell that he's determined to keep going. ]

I can't help but feel as though it's something that Sorey would want. After all, he's what helped to give me strength to pursue my own goals. I understand that this may sound strange coming from me... please, remember that you're allowed your own moments of weakness.

[tsunergy]

I know. I've tried to be careful about remembering that, too- a seraph who denies their own feelings is destined to become a hellion eventually, and the last thing I'd want is to make it harder on everyone. But dwelling on these problems could result in the same thing happening, too... I have to find a balance.

[He sighs.]

After everything, I understand a little better how the seraphim we met on our journey ended up the way they did. Living out in the world, secluded, in all that malevolence? It's much easier to see how they became hellions despite their age and power.

[aspearing]

I never imagined how difficult it would be a seraphim. .... It sounds as though there's a great deal to look out for. Even so... I believe that's all the more important to make sure that you aren't alone.

Even if Rose and I cannot be there -- I'm sure that Lord Zavied and the others will help you when you need it the most.

[tsunergy]

[It's been weird this whole time to hear her call him Lord Mikleo, but somehow "Lord Zaveid" is even more weird.]

I know. Believe me, I mean it when I say that I'm grateful. It's made all the difference.

[aspearing]

Then... I'm grateful that you feel that way.