ximilialog | ( open ) Let us not return to what was normal but reach toward what is next.

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( open ) Let us not return to what was normal but reach toward what is next.

CHARACTERS: the xims
LOCATION: the simulation room
DATE: New Year’s Eve + Day
CONTENT: Lights! Celebration! Schmoozing?
WARNINGS: N/A

[ christmas parties are all well and good, but erik finds them alienating. a holiday too seeped in historical nuance to be so easily brushed aside for the pretense of secularism. so he didn’t care overly much for it. however, the beginning of a new year is worth heralding. per rosi’s request, erik has crafted some disposable lanterns to be hung on branches or set adrift in the river. tables and chairs are set up with champagne and chips and dip, nothing terribly fancy, just enough to give you a light buzz and put you in a good mood.

there are little letters with pens to write tiny resolutions to take with them or set alight. let the blaze carry them forward or to enclose in little glass jars to be preserved. sprinklers for the late night sky that it’ll be projected above their heads along with fireworks.

the atmosphere is warm and hazy. take some time for yourself or with someone you care about to welcome the new year. and new changes. ]

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Christmas was a whole overwhelming foreign thing. Rosinante didn't hate it, far from it, but still, it's nice to have something familiar among all of this unfamiliarity. And celebrating the start of a new year? That's familiar. A year that marks separation from Law that will be temporary, because the new year means new chances to fix what went wrong.

He's not always optimistic about the future, but for a holiday like this one, he's choosing to be.

1. Lanterns He ends up by the simulated river first, with a lantern in his hands. Erik must have done this, he recognizes, and he'll thank him and spend time with the others later, but he won't feel settled until he's sent the little paper light off on its journey.

This itself isn't a tradition he knows from home, but it's one he's picked up over the years, and that means he's free to modify it to his liking, right? So rather than setting it adrift immediately, he sits himself down, folding his long legs until he's on the riverbank, and sets one of the little blank letters on his thigh to write. He's quick with the pen, his handwriting is small, as if he doesn't really want anyone to see, but he's not exactly trying to hide it either, so a keen observer might spot the to our freedom written on the paper before he folds it in half and tucks it inside the lantern, then pushes it out onto the water.

2. Drinks There, now he feels free to come enjoy snacks and drinks. Which, this is Rosinante so that means spilling an entire bowl of chips when he meant to grab one - he bumps the bowl instead and it goes flying off the table and onto the damp winter ground - or maybe into someone seated nearby, oops.

"Sorry," he sighs, because this is hardly the first time. "Let me get that."

Careful, don't let him spill the drink he's holding on you in the process, because it looks like he's seconds from forgetting he still has that in his hand.

3. Fireworks Something few here have been able to witness is Rosinante's love of explosives, but now suddenly he's presented with an opportunity.

Which is why he's accumulated a whole pile and is currently about to light a roman candle in his hand while also smoking a cigarette. Probably a safety hazard, but since when has that stopped him?

"What do you bet I can shoot down one of those lanterns?" he says with a wide grin, nodding to one he's somehow managed to sling up into the branches of a tree.

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[ erik's not here to claim credit or make a big deal out of this. he just makes sure there are enough lanterns, booze and food. otherwise he remains on a bench, twirling a paper lantern in his hands contemplatively. ]

Hey hey HEY WATCH YOUR HAND!

[ Yzak, who was comfortably seated on the ground nearby, is barely missed by that bowl, a couple of stray chips flying far enough to bounce off of his shoulder. He wasn't as fussed by that (still fussed, though, who do you think he is), however when Rosinante reacts and moves to pick the bowl up with that drink in his hand is when he actually jumps to his feet because he doesn't want to get drenched. ]

We're One-Prompting
[ Over by the river, Yzak is standing and inspecting one of the lanterns, turning it around thoughtfully in his hands. He's aware of different customs for these things from around the world that he's read about. But aside from whatever amalgamation of anything similar they might do back on PLANT, he's never gotten to experience something like it on Earth proper.

He'll find a comfortable place to sit on the ground to watch the fireworks when they're projected up above. He has a glass of champagne and a blank piece of paper with a pen sitting on the ground next to him, still considering what to jot down on it. But he doesn't seem rushed. ]

[And the reason for Erik's quiet is understandable, so Rosinante doesn't make a big show of thanking him either. But once he's sent his lantern off on its voyage and has poured himself a drink, he finds his way over and sits next to Erik on the bench. Given they're outdoors, or a facsimile of it, he doesn't bunch his knees up close like so often does to make space for others in the rest of the station, but instead lets his legs sprawl straight out in front. They probably make quite a sight there, side by side.

He lifts his glass in a small mock toast, then has a sip.]

When I said lanterns, I somehow didn't think you'd do all the rest of it too.

[Judging by the soft smile on his face, though, it's very much appreciated.]

Huh-?

[What's wrong with his hand? The one that's - oh that hand.

Because for a second there he looks in confusion at the hand that was reaching for the chips, then at Yzak, before he snaps his wide-eyed attention to his drink and manages to splash it down his own leg instead as he overreacts to stabilizing it with an exaggerated tilt of his arm.

Well, still, saved some of it, and none got on anyone else! Time for a victory guzzle.]

Hey, thanks. You all right?

I'm fine.

[ He lets out a huff, winding down from the outburst.

And then he holds out one of the napkins he has for himself so Rosi can wipe at his leg with it. ]

You really are this uncoordinated, huh?

[ erik gives a laconic shrug. ]

What can I say? Go big or go home.

[Athrun ventures over before too long, a glass of ice water in one hand and a bag slung over his arm. He doesn't sit right away, waiting to see if he's welcome first.]

Working on something?

[ Well, well, well, look who's staying hydrated.

Yzak hears him coming, shooting a glance over his shoulder. He gives a quizzical little head tilt at the bag on his arm, but doesn't inquire about it just yet. He turns back and glances down to the blank piece of paper at Athrun's question.

No dismissal, though. So he's welcome. The Christmas/New Year gap has been nice so there's nothing actively grating at him. ]

Not really.

There are a bunch of these around for wishes and resolutions.

[ He just hasn't figured out what to write on his, yet. ]

[The last thing this place needs is the two of them getting tipsy and interacting.

Athrun accepts the unspoken invitation (or at least the lack of rejection) and sits down nearby, taking a surreptitious glance at the paper, though he doesn't linger on it once he sees that it's blank.]

I hadn't noticed. I suppose "find the orbs" and "fix my regret" would be too obvious.

[ erik is flitting around, making sure there's enough for everyone. lanterns, booze, letters, you name it, he's probably refilling it. otherwise, he is hanging around the river, watching the sky quietly. letting the fireworks fill up the noise. ]

Time for new choices.

[Percy ventures close to the river at some point during the party, a cup of champagne in hand. He doesn't say anything for a long moment, just sips at the champagne while watching the river rush past them, the fireworks decorating the sky for just a moment.

Then:]

It's a bit strange celebrating a new year not six months after ushering it in. [As an explanation:] When I left my world, we were in the middle of the year. We're due for the new year in about—one more month, if I'm right.

[ erik glances at him curiously. ]

Yeah? Don't feel like you're picking up where you left off?

That's one possibility. The other is that I've been gone from home far longer than I thought. [And that's a terrible thought to have, but then again it's Percy. He's come to consider it something of his job to have them.]

Do any of us really know for certain we'll just be going back where we left off, if we fulfill the terms of our contracts here?

[And he takes a sip of his champagne. Clearly, drinking has not stopped him from thinking on this a little too much.]

[ he rolls his shoulders. ]

Nah. Viveca leaves it all vague 'n shit. I asked a while ago. Same with people who leave abruptly.

Always have been.

[At least he's willing to admit it. Plenty of times he's tried to pretend it's an act, or that it's just bad luck, but no point in a small, closed community like this one. So he just shrugs it off and takes the napkin so he can try to blot the champagne out of his pants.]

Good thing it's not red wine, huh?

Really only one option right now, then.

[Seems like going home is going to have to wait, after all.

But still, he's impressed, and pleased, and the tone of his reply comes out softer than it might have otherwise.]

Wonder how long we'll be here? Not that it's that bad. Think I'm getting used to it, finally.

[ More like the ONLY thing this place needs. Thankfully for Athrun Yzak paces himself and generally isn't a lush (how can someone be, as busy and sophisticated and concerned about his image as him) so he's good. Just a lil bubbly to partake in the "celebration." ]

Too obvious, yes. Pointless? I wouldn't say so. Putting it out there as an extra form of resolution wouldn't hurt anybody.

[ Says the nerd who's into this kind of thing.

He nods toward the bag he's carrying, mirroring his question. Nosy! ]

Are you working on something?

Ah- I was.

[He lifts the bag and rests it in front of him, opening it to offer its contents to Yzak: a simple box wrapped in red and silver ribbon, not especially intricate as it's not his craft, but neatly done.]

I never got to thank you for the candles, and it's late. It took longer than I expected to finish.

Finish...?

[ Something made, then? Hm!

Before he reaches for the gift, he looks back up to meet Athrun's gaze when he mentions the candles. ]

You better have gotten good use out of them!

[ Code for: he hopes you like it and are enjoying. ]

And it's fine. I don't really care if something is late.

[ Attention is attention, and thought for him is thought for him, after all. So after that remark he takes the box to carefully open. ]

Missions can't last forever. And neither can we.

[ it is a question growing at the back of his mind. what happens when they're done? does he just . . lay down and die? he has no regrets there but he hates the lack of answers. ]

Silver linings.

Let me get that.

[ Since Rosinante got further thrown off with all that, Yzak takes the initiative to pick up the bowl for him (so he doesn't try again and lordy forbid spill his drink even more). ]

I didn't think you would.

[Inside the box, at first glance it looks like nothing special: just a lump of indistinct black material, vaguely cylindrical. However, once Yzak touches it, the shape unfurls into a small robotic bat that crawls slowly up Yzak's hand with tiny metal claws on its wings. It peers up at him, mechanical ears wiggling, and chirps.]

[ His hand stills when the little mechanical creature starts to move. Yzak stares at it for a long, silent stretch of time, as it peeks up at him, makes its little robotic-sounding noises at him.

He looks ... bewildered as he gingerly lifts his hand to get a closer look at it. ]

A ... bat?

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( open ) Let us not return to what was normal but reach toward what is next.

Rosinante | OTA

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Yzak Jule | Gundam SEED (ota)

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erik stevens | mcu

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