paradisa | HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Connor has actually never seen half these foods before in his life. His experience with food he's unused to has been an adventure in pain so far, so he's very cautiously eying everything. Eventually he picks up an orange, though he can't actually figure out how to eat it...

Maybe it's... like an apple... should he bite into it, or. He glances over at Stephanie, though he's not about to ask her for help because that would be rude. But maybe she'll catch on anyway.]

[Steph's proud of him for showing up. She knows he's not the most social of kids.

And she knows that look. She holds out her hand for the orange.]

Let me guess... new to you?

[Connor grimaces a little sheepishly, but gives it to her.]

Is it obvious?

To me. But here, let me show you how to eat an orange. It's easy peasy.

[She makes sure he's paying attention to the way she uses her thumbnail to start separating the peel.]

You pull this stuff off, and eat the wedges inside. There might be seeds, though, so be careful.

[She takes a piece for herself! Mmm.]

[Seeds? Huh... alright. Connor watches carefully, then shakes his head.]

What part of the world does this come from?

Uhh... [Blindsided with easy questions!] Warmer parts. Like... Florida? Is that a thing yet, in your time? [Now she's just muttering to herself while holding the orange out to Connor.] Or was that still owned by the... Spanish? I borrowed history books from the library, I really just need to do the reading part.

Florida -- no, that is British now. Spain ceded it after the war.

[This is said pretty distractedly, as he's more interested in the orange she's handing him. He tentatively peels off a section like Stephanie had, then pops it in his mouth.]

You're too smart.

[Stephanie Brown, forever kicking herself in the ass for not paying attention in school.]

How's the orange? Good?

Achilles is to thank for my knowledge of politics.

[He doesn't sound particularly thrilled about this fact. Shit is boring! But anyway.]

It is... sweet. Um. But different from the sweet things I have had here. [Which are in turn different from the maple syrup he's used to. New flavours!]

More of a natural sweet, huh? [You'll never become a big buff Assassin with all the processed foods shoved down your throat, Connor.]

[All the processed foods make him ill in some way or another, so he tries to avoid them anyway...]

Yes... I suppose so. Like berries. Not quite like apple, but...

[Well, whatever, it's good!! He takes another section.]

Squishy.

[A solemn nod. Totally the word he was looking for.]

[His mouth twists a little in a smile he's trying to hold back. His mouth is full, don't make him laugh!]

Yes. 'Squishy.'

[Too cute.]

Hey, I've been meaning to ask--when's your birthday, hmm?

The fifth of April.

[Pauses to swallow orange...]

I am almost 15.

[Normally, this should all be a surprise, but... Connor's shy. No need to scare him.]

Would you like to do something for the big one-five? Have a special dinner, hang out with friends?

[Wow, Stephanie, it's not like he would explode or anything! At most, he'd just get really awkward... which isn't that condusive to parties, anyway.]

Oh -- I do not know. I have never thought about it. What... is normal? For birthdays?

Those things I mentioned, for one. Don't worry about normal, though--it's an excuse to do things you want to do.

Um.

[Remember when it was really apparent that Connor doesn't have a whole lot of interests and hobbies...]

If there is no snow, perhaps little war, if anyone knows how to play. But a dinner would be fine as well... maybe with these.

[Gestures at oranges... well, as long as they don't make him sick like everything else, anyway. Jury is still out.]

[Stop being so cute. Steph puts a hand on Connor's shoulder, giving it a squeeze.]

Whatever you want. Teach me games beforehand, though, so I can win.

[That's cheating!! But no it's fine, he likes Steph...]

Yes. I can teach you. Um -- there is a ball, and the players have long sticks with netting at one end, to pass it to each other to their goal.

That doesn't sound too complicated. Once the snow clears up, you're showing me.

[No getting out of it! Steph's pretty sure she's going to be schooled by a fourteen year old, but what's new...]

What did you do for birthdays at home?

[It's lacrosse, basically. He just doesn't know that word for it...]

We do not celebrate them like your people do. Instead, we celebrate the individual accomplishments as a person grows.

[That sounds so much more thoughtful.]

Well, we'll use your birthday as a day to make sure you know how much we all care about you.

[Wah... no... he glances down, a little embarrassed.]

Well, if you do not think it will be too much trouble. I do not want to bother anyone.

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