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

[willrememberthat]

Because I'm little? Younger? That's not fair.

[indirectcause]

Because you're the whole heart of our group. We keep you safe, that's how it is.

[willrememberthat]

[Once that would have made her smile. Now, it just makes her grimace.]

Which is why everyone is dead, and I'm all alone.

[indirectcause]

[Uh oh. He glances up at that, surprised.]

Alone? What about Omid and Christa?

[willrememberthat]

Omid was killed over a year ago. He was trying to save me. [Shot with her own gun. Christa never got over that, and Clem couldn't blame her. She should have kept it close.] And Christa and I got attacked by another group of people. I heard her get shot.

[But she couldn't get to her to be sure. Clementine is blunt in her delivery, but she's frustrated so she doesn't care.]

[indirectcause]

[He wasn't expecting that. So that was it their small, broken cobbled together family, whittled down to one little girl. It hurts to even think about it. They'd fought so hard and travelled so far, and now she really was by herself.]

I- Shit, Clem, I'm so sorry.

[willrememberthat]

Just don't do that again.

[She's tired of being the only one left.]

[indirectcause]

I'll be more careful, but none of us are ever gonna stop trying to protect you, Clem.

[willrememberthat]

Do you promise to be more careful?

[You can't lie, sucker.]

[indirectcause]

[That's mean, Clem.]

Yeah, I promise I'll be more careful.

[willrememberthat]

Okay.

[She accepts that.]

I wouldn't know what to do if...

[If he died right then and there. She's got enough trauma.]

[indirectcause]

I'll do my best to make sure that doesn't happen, okay?

[Lord knows he needs to pull himself out of this hole he's dug for himself sometime, maybe this might do it.]

[willrememberthat]

You're gonna have to make it up to me.

[indirectcause]

[That gets a ghost of a smile]

Oh? And how do I do that?

[willrememberthat]

[She opens her arms for a hug. Suffer.]

[indirectcause]

[Wow that is the worst thing she could ever ask of him. Except, you know, not. Ever.

He'll pull her in for a hug, yep, this is suffering right here.]

[willrememberthat]

[She hugs him tightly, maybe even uncomfortably so. Okay, it's clinging.]

[indirectcause]

[He's okay with the clinging, and gives her a gentle, reassuring squeeze.]

I'm sorry I scared you.

[willrememberthat]

It's okay. I'm okay as long as you're okay, too.

[indirectcause]

Then we'll both be okay. [See, he's even in a better mental state to say he can be 'okay' again.]

[willrememberthat]

You were really brave. [With that she loosen her hold on him. People don't praise Ben all that much.

He was a little stupid, too. But he tried to do what he thought was right.]

[indirectcause]

[He smiles softly at that, ducking his head, very much not used to the praise.]

I didn't feel brave.

[willrememberthat]

I think you've always been brave.

[Even at home.]

[indirectcause]

I don't know about that, Clem. I'm kinda a mess.

[willrememberthat]

[She could be comforting, or...]

What do you mean?