Another Auld Lang Syne

[shieldthemoon]

Date: 12/31/19xx
Time: 2100

Sousuke couldn't help but wonder if he was in the wrong place.  He knew the time was right, and could have sworn this was where the others had said they were going to rendezvous.  At least he hoped so; if there was another shrine he was supposed to meet them by, then he was definitely in trouble.  This seemed like the

Comments

[lambda_driven]

What a strange question. Sousuke gives her a rather quizzical look, eyebrow raising just slightly. "Of course," he replied matter-of-factly, "I would have come even if this was how it was arranged from the beginning, so it's not a problem." To an outsider - and probably to Usagi - that was a rather bold statement on his part. As for how he saw it?

Well, he was just stating a fact, that's all.

"In any case, there's no point in waiting any longer if we're the only ones here. We may as well begin now, then." He turned to face the temple grounds, watching the growing hustle and bustle with mild interest. He didn't understand even a fraction of these traditions... but hopefully, that would soon be remedied.

[ourshininghope]

There was no way that deep down inside, Usagi wished that Sousuke meant that comment in a romantic way. Not a chance in hell. Why? Because they were friends. Just friends. He totally didn't see her that way and neither did she.

The Nile is only a river that runs in Egypt. Clearly.

"Well, okay!" Taking a deep breath, Usagi moves to stand next to her companion and smiles comfortingly, "You said before that this is your first temple visit during the New Years right?"

She motions him forward towards the steps and starts heading upwards, careful not to step on any hidden patches of ice.

[lambda_driven]

He nodded with his usual response: "Affirmative." Arms at his sides, he follows alongside her, eyes continually scanning the crowd around them. In a group like this, it would be easy for someone to sneak their way into close proximity. If they had a knife, or a silenced weapon, they could--

No. Stop. None of that, not now. Remain calm and proceed as a civilian would. Blind to danger and ignorant to the ever-present threats around them-- CALM.

"I've never celebrated the holiday before, in any case." He glanced at Usagi again, blinking once. He hadn't noticed before, but... "Your outfit. I haven't seen you in such clothing before. Should I have worn something else?"

[ourshininghope]

"You didn't have to! I just wanted to look nice this year.." With all the other girls, but she leaves that unsaid as she lifts the sleeve of her winter kimono. Somewhere inside of the back of her mind, there was another reason that she wanted to look nice, but she wasn't exactly up to admitting to it. To distract herself from her thoughts, Usagi glances at the outfit that Sousuke was sporting and smiles.

It was so unlike him to wear fashionable clothing but, "... No, your outfit looks good, Sousuke." She says that with the fullest sincerity in her voice. "Let me guess. Everyone else picked it out for you."

After a moment, they finally get to the top of the steps to see that a good amount of people are already here to give their blessings for the new year. There's still time for the crowd to increase, but for now it's a good amount of people.

[lambda_driven]

It was such a simple compliment that it shouldn't have even registered in his mind. So why did his cheeks feel just a little warmer upon hearing the remark? Must be the cold messing with his circulation. That had to be it. "Yes," he blinked again, frowning a little, "was it obvious?"

A brief pause. "In any event," he added, "your choice of attire suits you well."

Eyes snapping forward again - and trying to shrug off that awkward feeling in the pit of his stomach - he tried to bring the topic somewhere else. "What exactly do we do here, anyway?