HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[paradisamods]

All that clamor from the lion dance prancing down the halls should be enough to draw attention to the party, even without actual invitations. If not the noise, then perhaps the delicious smell wafting under every door and leading back to the ballroom.

The castle is vain, if nothing else. It has decorated the ballroom in the deepest red and brightest gold with auspicious greetings in the common language tastefully posted about the hall. May your happiness be without end, one says, while another goes May all your wishes be fulfilled. Small order, all things considered.

Round dining tables (with the turning glass part) are set up in the middle of the hall, each with about ten chairs and piles of food fit for a whole village. There are two more lion dance teams hopping about the hall and making a racket while occasionally nabbing that dumpling straight from your chopsticks. That should the least of your concerns, however, with many residents still aiming to settle their grudges before the new year.

Watch your back.

[ ooc; IC mingle log for Lunar New Year plot, feel free to make your own threads! ]

Comments

[indirectcause]

Our group is safer.

[Still, he sighs.] I'm just still getting used to other people, you know? I thought it'd be...easier. Adjusting back to a normal life, but it's not.

[batteriesarehard]

[Carley echoes his sigh and reaches out to grasp his shoulder.]

I know. It's been hard for me too, but I'm proud of your for still trying.

[indirectcause]

Thanks. [His smile is genuine, at least. After a moment, it softens.] I...uh. I got a girlfriend. Here, I mean.

[batteriesarehard]

[Oh that's just adorable.]

Anyone I know?

[indirectcause]

[He'll shrug, so awkward about this.]

Ellie. We just...I don't know. We get what each other's gone through, y'know?

[batteriesarehard]

[It's hard not to think about Lee in that moment, because she does know. That might be part of why her smile is so soft, but it has a lot to do with just being happy for Ben, too.]

That's great, Ben. Have you taken her out on a date yet?

[indirectcause]

[Oh. That. That gets a nervous laugh.]

I...uh. No. Not yet.

[batteriesarehard]

You'll have to change that eventually.

[indirectcause]

I know. I just don't know where I could even take her.

[batteriesarehard]

It might be hard with all the snow around, but there's places in the city you could take her. It doesn't even need to be something huge, just something for the two of you to do together.

[indirectcause]

I guess. I'm not really good at that kind of stuff.

[batteriesarehard]

You're probably her first boyfriend, so I wouldn't worry about everything being just perfect or anything like that. She's a sweet girl, Ben, I'm sure as long as you put thought into it she'd have fun with anything you picked to do.

[indirectcause]

I hope so. Maybe we could go and see a movie or something. There's a theatre here and I know she hasn't seen a whole lot of them. [What with her being born after the world went to shit and all.]

[batteriesarehard]

See, you've already got a plan.

[Mamabear is so proud, she knew Ben could think of something.]

Any of her group know about this yet?

[indirectcause]

[He gives a shrug.]
I don’t think so. I mean, if they did, I’m sure one of them would have let me know by now. [Especially Joel.]

[batteriesarehard]

You've got a point there. I'm sure Tess will have all kinds of lovely things to say about it.

[indirectcause]

[He visibly pales.]

Oh god if Joel doesn't kill me, she sure will.

[batteriesarehard]

No one's going to kill you, Ben.

[indirectcause]

I don't know, he's super protective of her.

[batteriesarehard]

And I'm protective of you. Who do you think will win?

[indirectcause]

[Oh god.]

Carley, please don't get into a fight with Joel.

[batteriesarehard]

I won't have to if he just thinks about this whole thing logically. If he can't figure out you're a good kid he can trust, then we'll have a problem. He seems smarter than that, though.

[indirectcause]

[Ben's not too sure about that trusting thing, he's still a disaster zone, as far as he's concerned. Time for a noncommittal shrug.]

Yeah, I guess...