Happiness is too many things these days for anyone to wish it on anyone lightly. [OPEN]

[ritsu_kouyou]

Characters: It's a party! So everyone is invited... including the Queen of Hearts
Date: 12/31 - New Year's Eve
Summary: Ringing in the new year at the Tohno Mansion
Warnings: Alcohol, potential for violence, midnight kisses

OOC: Some reference images of the mansion: Front and Entry Way. Prose or Action works! Whatever you're comfortable with

Comments

Fireworks

[reluctantstop]

[Because this is a fireworks thread.

Kris is indeed working on something. It doesn't look much like fireworks but, then again, it's magic. She doesn't have to explain shit.]

[ritsu_kouyou]

[Akiha has had a lot to drink, but she's only slightly flushed in the face. Glass in her hand and bundled up, she watches Kris work and is waiting for the show.

This better be good given what she had to exchange for it.]

[reluctantstop]

[Don't complain! She only had to give a hug.

Besides, sorcerers do it better.]

[ritsu_kouyou]

[Akiha can complain all she wants. It's not like she gives hugs out all the time. It's a big deal!

And that remains to be seen.]

How are things going?

[manymasked]

Minako knocked on the front door of the imposing mansion, hefting a plate of cookies in her free hand. The invitation hadn't asked for it, but it was only polite to bring something when you were invited to a party, wasn't it?

Anyway, it was nice to be properly celebrating New Year's again. Last year she'd been a little too... preoccupied to really enjoy it.

[ritsu_kouyou]

One of the maids answered the door and ushered Minako inside, taking the plate of cookies with a polite bow and word of thanks. It wasn't long before Akiha greeted the other girl with a polite smile and a small bow.

"Arisato... I'd been starting to think the Queen had let you go. Despite that not being the case, it's good to see you."

[manymasked]

Minako smiled wryly. "I'm sorry - I didn't mean to be such a stranger, but I've spent most of this month in the Wild Places, and not by choice."

She glanced around the room, taking in the trappings of the mansion and the tables laden with food. "Thank you for the invitation, anyway. It looks like you've really gone all out."

[ritsu_kouyou]

"I hope you came with your appetite." Akiha gestured to the tables. "Nothing less for my guests. I do have standards I must uphold."

[cobbledtogether]

[Even if Akiha had said she wanted Lambda to enjoy herself as well, the cyborg was, as always, business first. Her battle mode activated, she made her sweeps of the mansion silently, always remaining just beyond the fringes of the assembled guests.]

[ ooc: I'm still technically on hiatus, so replies to this might be slow or sporadic. Also, Lambda will be your security for evening, so in the unlikely(?) event that any fights break out, let me know somewhere that Lambda needs to go do her job. ]

[highest_caliber]

[ Subaru might stand out a bit, too, in her dark blue gown, but that depends on how many people in attendance took advantage of using the gift given for the other party. Her partner's gem is tucked into the sash at her waist, a black ribbon in her hair, and even has a tiny bit of makeup on.

No, maybe the reason that she stands out is that she looks so much more like an adult; even more so than in her silver-and-blue uniform. ]

[ She is watching the cyborg carefully; almost shyly. Normally she wouldn't be so hesitant, but while Subaru had learned a few things about the other while she had been transformed, there is some uncertainty because they haven't seen each other since then. Should she just walk up and say "hi"? Does Lambda even remember what happened? ]

[cobbledtogether]

[She remembered, sure enough, even if her recollection of that day is muddled and filled with thoughts and memories and emotions she can't connect to herself. And if her feelings toward Subaru had changed at all because of it, it had been a positive one - gratitude, maybe, like what she had felt toward Akiha afterwards.]

[Which is why, when she nears Subaru on one of her sweeps, she does slow for a moment and look at her. She doesn't stop, though. She's working, after all.]

[highest_caliber]

[ If she doesn't stop when Subaru smiles right at her and waves, that's fine. She can wait until she takes a break-

She will take a break, right? And people thought Subaru was a work-a-holic when it came to accommodating guests... ]

Midnight - kisses and champagne [OPEN TO ALL]

[ritsu_kouyou]

[3...2...1...]

Happy New Year!

[The clock struck midnight and the new year was ushered in with a champagne toast and some might even take this moment to exchange traditional kisses or break into drunken song. Or all of the above.]

[ooc: Feel free to put any midnight threading under here regardless whether the character is interacting with Akiha or not.]

[cobbledtogether]

[As Akiha had asked of her, Lambda had taken a glass of champagne at midnight along with everyone else. Presently, she was busy staring into her empty glass. It was hard to tell, given the visor that covered the majority of her face, but from the twist of her lips her expression seemed a little uncertain...]

[ritsu_kouyou]

[Akiha tilts her head, face a little flushed, as she looks over.]

Did you not like it?

[cobbledtogether]

[Her gaze snaps away from the bottom of her glass as Akiha speaks.]

...I don't know.

[Identifying things she does and does not like still isn't something she's especially skilled in, apparently.]

[grandtheftmecha]

Katina is here for the drinks and the pheasant, so she heads for the table right when she arrives. She's not going to eat ALL the bird, but she does take a healthy portion, and samples the rest of the meal as well, heading off to the side to dig in before socializing.

[ritsu_kouyou]

Akiha saw Katina arrive and... gave her a fairly wide berth. For now.

...but it would be impolite and improper for the host of the party t avoid one of the guests completely. So, after Katina has partaken of the pheasant, Akiha eventually walked over with a couple glasses in her hand. Lowball glasses, one contained an amber liquid and the other looked almost dark enough to be cola, but certainly wasn't.

She offers the pilot the glass of amber and a polite nod.

"Something to drink, Lieutenant?"

[grandtheftmecha]

It wouldn't have surprised Katina if the host had avoided her the entire night. Politeness didn't change how much Akiha seemed to hate her, but apparently it's enough for her to greet her anyways.

She swallows a bite, and turns to Akiha. "Thanks. What do you have there?"

[ritsu_kouyou]

It wasn't hate, per se, but there were definitely strong negative emotions associated with Katina. There were so many things about the pilot that irritated her that it was hard to find anything worth liking in the woman other than her combative nature. Maybe it was the darkness inside Akiha that found Katina more interesting than Akiha herself.

Regardless, she doesn't dwell on it as Katina didn't deserve that amount of rumination, so Akiha believes, but polite she would be. Katina did give her word as an officer that she would be on her best behavior. It was only proper for Akiha to do the same.

"Brandy. I trust it's not too strong for you."