windfall | 01 — i know that it's your soul, but could you bottle it up?

Ah, ah, ah. We still have an hour's worth of 2017 left to enjoy. Let's make the most of it.

[it takes a bit of elbow grease to get the restrooms looking spick-and-span, but, once they've gotten the weird fungus growing from the ceiling taken care of, all that's left to do is turn on the security system and close up. and they've got 5 minutes left 'til countdown.] ...I have to say, an extra pair of hands really did make a world's difference.

Feels like it's the cleanest this site's been for years... Just in time for 2018, right?

[akira's running through the mental checklist of things to do during closing again, but it really does seem they've hit every item on the list. he's finally untying his apron and taking it off, shaking out his hair after he pulls the apron over his head.]

Any plans?

Hm? [her apron is draped over her shoulder as sunny balances the cash drawer, flipping through the same stack of bills for the third time, just to make sure she hadn't miscounted. finally satisfied, she pushes the drawer back into the register, and then throws him a wry look from over her shoulder.] Plans? Good joke, Akira.

You said that didn't have any, right? Earlier, I mean. [releases her hair from its ponytail, combing her fingers through the tangles] Are you just going to head home?

Yeah, probably...

[he glances at the clock again.]

But I might stop by at the city square for a bit, since we wrapped up early. I figure they'll probably have performances and fireworks going off over there, so it can't hurt to catch a few before I head back. Since it's not far.

[he does have a guardian for the duration of his probation, but it's a distant family friend who doesn't particularly like him. anyway, they're out of town for new year's, so it's not as if akira has someone waiting for him to get home. he studies sunny a bit, then says:]

Wanna come?

[the truth is, sunny has no real reason to refuse. it's an innocent enough question; they've already spent most of the night together anyways. plus, it'd suck to end the year on such a low note, their last customer's presence having sobered them some. what did she have to lose?]

Uh, well... sure. Okay. Let me just grab my things and, um, lock up.

Take your time. I'm sure the performances are going to last for a while.

[akira doesn't have much aside from his coat, phone, and wallet, two of which are in a pocket anyway, so he just hangs up his apron, puts on his jacket, and goes to wait near the door, idling on his phone as sunny gets her stuff. in hindsight, maybe going to the square isn't the best decision; inevitably, some of the top artists from mds and luminous will be performing for the new year. still, maybe the vibe will be upbeat enough that they can enjoy themselves anyway... the fireworks in aurozora are in their own special league.]

Edited 2018-01-02 03:11 (UTC)

[unable to remember the last time she really hung out with anyone or hit the town, sunny finishes everything in a flurry, despite akira's reassurance, fueled by a mixture of excitement and nerves. once she's hastily zipped up her jacket, she approaches, nodding her head in the direction of the door.]

Ready. I don't know if we'll make it in time for the ball drop, but... maybe we'll see something interesting in the distance.

[akira leads the way outside, hovering a bit at the door to give sunny a moment to finish locking up. he slips on his gloves, letting out a breath—it's visible in the cold.]

Yeah, don't they usually have really impressive fireworks? Like huge ones with different shapes. [and maybe even numbers for the new year... aurozora isn't globally renowned as a major entertainment hub for nothing.]

Oh, yeah. [she hums to herself, remembering how she'd attended the lum-mds cocktail party the year before, following after her grandmother like a lost puppy after ben had been swept away by his posse] Last year, I'm pretty sure they launched out fireworks that spelled out, Will you marry me, Jane? And, apparently, she had an answer prepared, because a few seconds later, a really big NO came out.

[akira releases an outright laugh at that.] Her timing... That's one way to turn someone down on New Year's.

[he keeps a steady pace alongside sunny as he starts navigating them in the direction of the city square.]

There was another year when they went all-out and did some dragon fireworks. Wonder if we'll get dogs this year? [because c'mon who can resist when it's the YEAR OF THE DOGGO. sorta. even if it's not a new year yet on the lunar calendar.]

I hope so! [they're now on a street full of people coming and going, cheering and laughing, drinking and dancing — looks like they're headed the right way. in the distance, she can hear music playing; it sounds live.]

So, then... how did you spend New Year's Eve last year? Did you go to the square that time too?

Edited 2018-01-03 20:02 (UTC)

Nah, just some hot pot with friends. [he sounds rather nostalgic as he says this while watching some loud passersby click their wine glasses together.] We figured it'd be better since it was so cold last year.

[he hasn't spoken to them all that much since the whole court ordeal, but that's besides the point.]

Wonder which artists will be performing during the show...

[the popular, long-time fan favorites will definitely be back. maybe they'll even be in costumes by vega. now that'd be pretty exciting.]

I don't know. I don't really keep up with that stuff. [not recently, anyways. for the most part, working full-time has kept her busy. sometimes, she'll think about auditioning for a part in some no-name play, but she knows that there isn't much use. not with the name she has.]

Oh, but, hot pot sounds really good... [they pass by a particularly large and lively group of friends, jostling and giggling with one another; a good opportunity to change the subject] I'm not sure how much fun it'd be with just the two of us, though.

Yeah, it seems like something that would work better with a large group of people.

[not that he really knows who else he'd invite; akira hasn't really been in close contact with very many people recently anyway.]

[a small smile.] I'd kill for some fish tofu though. [stop right there akira, do not imagine warm fish tofu...]

[groooooaaaans]

Beef would be good too. Cuttlefish... Oh, crab sounds nice, now that I think about it. [damn you, akira] I think that all I want is something with a hot broth.

[don't worry sunny, akira's suffering increases exponentially with every food item you list.]

[in a rather mournful voice:] Wonder if any places are still open right now...

[they've reached the square by now, but there's so much going on at once, it's difficult to really decide on where to begin]

I don't know... it's pretty late. We can try searching on our phones, but... since we're here, should we check out the street vendors first? Just to see if they have anything?

[now that they're at the square, it sounds like there's a female artist being broadcast over the speakers, singing an upbeat remix of one of the top hits from the past year. she sounds familiar... akira's probably heard her on the radio countless different times before.]

Sounds good. Maybe they'll have—

[he's cut off by the first round of fireworks going off in the sky in a massive, dazzling display. the first set shows off "2018" in iridescent colors, and immediately after it's followed by a set of fireworks with the faces of different dog breeds.]

Wow, I don't even recognize some of those. That one looks like a Shiba, though... [still, akira's smiling, and the fireworks are reflecting off the glare of his glasses as he looks up.]

Edited 2018-01-04 15:59 (UTC)

Cuuuute. I want one.

[she gasps, eyes twinkling, as each firework shoots off into the sky. sunny's pretty sure one of them is supposed to be a bull terrier, but the sparks dissipate and descend before she can point it out. a few traditional, yet unnecessarily huge, fireworks shoot off after. it's funny, and a little cute, the way he's captivated by the display; she can't help shifting her gaze between the fireworks and his face, curious to see his reaction for all of them.]

Oh, hey, these next ones look like flowers. [squints a little, as if that'll help her identify them] Is that an orchid...? I can't tell.

Yeah, looks like it. [and hey, that one's even in purple, which is neat.] And that one's a daffodil, and a plumeria.

[he tilts his head a bit, considering, then amused realization rises in his gaze.]

Kind of cheesy, but it looks like they're really going for a "new beginnings" theme, judging by the flowers. [he holds up a gloved hand a little to breathe on it, warming it a little, then tucks both hands neatly in his pockets.]

Didn't peg you as the type to know so much about flower language. Color me impressed, Akira. [she watches him with fresh, appraising eyes, before turning her gaze back toward the sky. more flowers bloom right in front of them, daisies now.] New beginnings, huh...

[other fireworks spring to the sky after, each one louder and brighter than the previous. the last big one reads, "HAPPY NEW YEARS!" followed by several smaller fireworks surrounding it. sunny feels dizzied by the end, still staring at the now dark, blank canvas of the sky, as if still holding out hope for more]

There's a book someone recommended to me that went into detail about it. [never mind that it was more or less foisted upon him by his manager at the flower shop, but hey, who's checking? at any rate, at least it's useful for work and random trivia and...dissecting the significance in new year's fireworks...]

[there are a few noises of disappointment as some teenagers near them mull over the lull in fireworks. akira doesn't look outwardly disappointed, but he's still watching the sky like sunny is, waiting a bit. usually the show goes longer, rivaling that of what he's seen on tv of the ones done in new york city.]

Any resolutions?

[she can name a few off the top of her head, but too embarrassed to actually say them, she shakes her head]

Ah... no, not really... maybe I just need some more time to think about it though. I'll get back to you on that. [looks around, seeing some people begin to return to what they'd been doing before the fireworks. is it really over?] What about you? New year, new you — isn't that how the saying goes?

[having the question turned back on him makes akira pause a bit, but right as he's about to respond, he hears a voice calling out some distance away in the crowd. a familiar voice.

"ren? that you?"

akira stiffens, gaze casting about to find the source. then, nearby, in the distance, there's a boy his age with brown hair, stylishly gelled. his ears are pierced, and he's clad in a pea coat that flatters his athletic form. the kind of guy who'd attract attention in a crowd, from the way some girls nearby are looking at him, whispering excitedly.

the kind of guy who's been on tv a few times before, with the debut of luminous' latest boy group.

as if he hasn't seen, akira lets his gaze slide away, and then he firmly takes hold of sunny's wrist, putting conscious effort into not squeezing too hard, and guides them through the crowd, away from the boy.

"oi, ren—don't you dare run away from me, not like last time—"

too late. a gaggle of teenagers meanders into the spaces between, blocking the boy off from pursuing, and akira determinedly leads sunny toward one of the food stands. for all his quick reaction, the only thing betraying how he's feeling is how white his knuckles are on his other hand, the one that isn't touching sunny, and the slight wince in his expression.]

...Wanna try the takoyaki? My treat.

[sunny doesn't look back at the boy, because she doesn't need to. she's never really caught his name before, but she's seen his face — on a billboard, or promoting a new fashion line on tv, or singing and dancing on some kid's phone screen. he's a star, you get to know them without trying.

so, instead of looking back, she looks up. akira's face is unreadable, and, maybe, that in itself says something.]

Huh? [she blinks, slowly registering his question, the gears in her head still turning. ren, the guy had said with conviction, with familiarity. the name rings a bell, but distantly. she's heard it in the past, she just can't pinpoint where.] Oh! Takoyaki? Yeah, sure. If you pay for it, I can grab drinks, if you want?

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