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

you hurt me too...

[willrememberthat]

[She hasn't been ready for any of the changes she's experienced, and they've all been bad.]

Do you really believe that?

[rightchoices]

Well.

[ He's quiet for a moment. Ruminating. ]

I was alone when I found you, wasn't I? And that changed.

[willrememberthat]

It didn't end well.

[Seeing as she had to kill him and everything.]

[rightchoices]

And? There a reason why the ending has to be the most important part?

[ Quickly, but softly. ]

[willrememberthat]

[Because it's one of the things she's left with. When she thinks about Lee, it's one of the things to first pop into her mind.]

Maybe it wouldn't have happened if you hadn't found me.

[rightchoices]

Yeah? That's a pretty dangerous road of thought to start down, Clementine. No point in the what-ifs. Between you and me? I don't like to think about it. Both of us saw firsthand how easy it is for a person to turn into a monster without something there to keep them grounded.

[ He's still looking out over the party, chin on her head. ]

[willrememberthat]

I try, Lee. I really try. [Joel said about the same. She's got her eyes tightly shut.]

[rightchoices]

[ And he laughs a little - not because he finds it funny, but just because that answer surprises him. He hugs her again, just a reassuring squeeze of the arm. ]

That's the thing, sweet pea: you don't have to try. Alright?

[willrememberthat]

Alright. [She absently rubs under her eye, as if checking if there are any tears there. So far, so good. Go Clem.]

Um. I guess... what I was trying to say before is that... even if my parents show up, you're still my family, too.

[rightchoices]

[ Lee is embarrassed by how much of a relief that little concession is, and he leans back just enough to smile at her. Amused, or at least he's trying very hard to be. ]

That wasn't ever even a worry of mine. Our friendship is pretty unique, right? Figure there's not a lot that can come between that, Clem.

[ Which is to say: breathe easy. Things will be alright, even if they show up. ]

[willrememberthat]

Nothing will.

[Just death. She doesn't want to think about that, though. Not now.]

How long did you want to stay at the party?

[rightchoices]

[ Lee considers, before he ducks his head and laughs softly. ] As long as it takes to make Carley happy that I showed.

[willrememberthat]

I bet we could sneak out and watch a movie without her noticing. [Or getting too upset. Clem knows her powers.]

[rightchoices]

Oh, I bet she'd notice.

[ He casts a glance Carley's way, before looking back to Clem. We could invite her, he starts to say - but given his and Clementine's conversation earlier, maybe it's time for a movie with just them. ]

But you could blame it on me.

[willrememberthat]

Or me. She wouldn't get mad at me.

[rightchoices]

[ Lee ducks his head to laugh briefly. ]

You're not supposed to take advantage of that, sweet pea.

[willrememberthat]

[Clementine grins.]

But it's true. And you know it, too.

[rightchoices]

Yeah, but you keep it up too long, and people might cotton on.

[ One eyebrow goes slooowly up, but he's still smiling. ]

-- but it's pretty smart. I'll give you that.

[willrememberthat]

I don't use it all the time.

[Not purposely, anyway.]

Does that mean we're sneaking out?

[rightchoices]

[ He seems to deliberate for a moment. ]

I'll keep lookout. You sneak out into the hallway and I'll come after you in a few minutes. No one can blame me for leaving if I'm looking for you, right?

[willrememberthat]

[She grins. That's so sneaky, she loves it.]

Good plan, Lee.

[He gets one more hug before she hops off and goes to casually stroll out. She's short. It's easy.]