(no subject)

[onlyasign]

Who: Sufferer and anyone
Where: around the Plaza
When: New Year's Eve, around 7 PM
Status: open!
Style: contemplative

It's New Year's Eve, a holiday somewhat foreign to the trolls, but Sufferer knows enough to recognize it as a solemn, contemplative occasion. At least, that's how he's interpretting it. Or maybe it's just his new outlook on life.

Either way, the evening finds him in the Plaza, moving around it slowly, dreamily, carrying multi-colored paper bags and tea light candles. He sets each bag down carefully, fills it with a little sand or a few stones, and sets a lit candle in it. Those who were here last holiday season might remember him doing something similiar, and the Plaza is slowly filling up with gently flickering light.

It just seems like a good time of year for it.

Comments

[bufudine]

[Serph's attention is drawn by the candles. His gaze wanders, taking in the colours as he slowly walks around, taking care not to disturb the bags. When he sees Signless, he quietly approaches, nodding in greeting.]

What are these for?

[onlyasign]

Hello, Serph.

[Sufferer nods at his comrade.]

They're decorations. It seems appropriate to this time of year, somehow.

[bufudine]

[Serph's gaze slides back to the candles before returning to Signless. He steps a little closer, a hand out in silent question of whether Signless wants help or not.]

What's special about this time of year?

[aim_exorable]

As Sufferer goes throughout the plaza, he might come across more of those little multicolored bags- usually in reds or yellows or greens. Huh, did he put those up and just forget? Oh well, probably nothing to worry about.

But the more he walks the more of them he might see. Looks like someone else is putting some light into the plaza. That someone else also might be following him and also will no come out for anything. Don't mind Darkleer using his Void powers to hide and sneak about. Really. Please don't.

[onlyasign]

Huh, that is weird! It's almost like someone else is helping! Someone who might have been doing the same thing when he did this last year!

Now who could such a person be?

Whatever, he's not going to sweat it. Sufferer continues as he was, laying out more bags and lighting more candles.

[aim_exorable]

No one. That is who that person is. Definitely no one.

'No One' is currently just content, apparently, to keep placing out more of the bags and candles, making sure to keep out of sight. It takes ages until he finally dares to do so much as speak up- although he of course doesn't decide to appear to him.

"It has been a very long time."

[thekidsare0kay]

Sollux happens to be out and about, and sees the Signless doing that thing with the bags. To be honest, he hasn't turned his mind much towards the next holiday, which seems to be just more of a continuation of 12th Perigees to his mind.

He hasn't talked to Signless much in quite a while, and not at all since he returned from being gone, though he has caught glimpses of him in passing when visiting his ancestor.

So he trots over to Signless and smiles at him. "Hey. What are you doing?"

[onlyasign]

Sufferer looks up from the candle he's lighting, and as always, Sollux's appearance throws him a little. He looks so much like Psii did, back when they first met... Psii's hair was a little longer, and he was heavier than Sollux is, but other than that, they could be identical twins.

Well. They pretty much are identical twins. Sufferer wonders if people ever think the same about himself and Karkat.

"Hello, Sollux." He smiles at him. "I'm decorating the plaza. Would you like to help?"

[thekidsare0kay]

Psii was also probably taller than Sollux, but maybe not by a lot. He's a growing boy as he nears his seventh sweep.

But as for Signless and Karkat, Sollux thinks Signless looks more world-weary than Karkat, but they do look really freakishly identical.

His smile widens to a grin. He happens to be in a good mood today. "Yeah, sure. I guess I don't have anything better to do. What are we decorating for, exactly?"

[wavesofjade]

This kind of holiday is new to her, but that doesn't mean she hasn't gone out of her way to find out what it's all about. The turning of the new year, a time for reflection and looking to the future. She likes this idea. A future is something that she can have in this strange place, even if it isn't the one she might have imagined, or wanted.

When she finds her little one in the Plaza, laying out candles, she doesn't have it in her heart to interrupt him. Instead, she stands quietly in the dim light of one of the small, flickering flames and clasps her hands in front of herself, watching him with a soft smile on her face.

[onlyasign]

Somehow, Sufferer hasn't found out Dolorosa is in the bubble at all, and continues laying out candles in blissful ignorance for a few moments. Then something alerts him to her presence, something he wouldn't be able to identify later--maybe it's the way she smells, or the sight of jade green out of the corner of his eye, or maybe it's just the intense, comforting aura she emits that's just as real to him as her glow--and he looks up.

His eyes widen, the pupils dilating as he takes in the sight of her, and then he's standing up and hurtling towards her like he's been shot from a gun.

"Rosa!"

[rebull]

He watches for a bit, was kinda... staying out of the open plaza, but when he sees Signless, he's much more interested since he hasn't seen the other for a bit but he-

Looks different. There's a sudden worry that comes over him, but nothing too intense, and soon he's following, a bit, watching at he does, looking to his hands. His brows furrow slightly, finally getting a bit closer. Signless might even see him before he nears with how Summoner looks, of course, might even hear the small shuffle of his wings.

"You uh, you want some help with that, Tights?"

[onlyasign]

"Hi, Summoner." It's kind of hard for the general to be stealthy, isn't it, between the breadth of his horns and the unique sounds his wings make. At least he doesn't startle Sufferer, who looks up and smiles at him.

"I certainly would. You can reach higher than I can." And he offers him bags and candles.

[zelda_hylia]

Zelda remembers this same scene from last year very well. It was the first time she had ever stopped to consider the fact that Link might not have wanted to go back to his childhood, the first she thought of him as a person separate from the image of the hero she had built up in her mind over seven long years. It was also the first time she'd let someone hold her since her own childhood. All small things, but very significant to the princess.

She walks up to the Sufferer quietly. He's changed as much as she has over the past year, and they're both worn down. Still, this is a new year, isn't it? Regardless of what's happened, time marches on.

"I was wondering if you would do this again this year."

[onlyasign]

Sufferer looks up at her, and smiles gently at the princess. She seems tired, but it hasn't taken away at all from her beauty or the quiet air of wisdom she carries across her shoulders. It has been a long year for both of them, but they're still standing.

"Yes. I wasn't going to, but then decided it would be a good idea anyway." He didn't make a speech to the network this year, though.

[bestestfurrend]

Here's a small kitty troll daughter trotting up to him to tug gently at his cloak for his attention, not having seen him for a while and very much wanting to give him a hug.

[onlyasign]

And here's a troll dad glancing down, smiling to see his kitty daughter, and extending one arm so she can duck underneath it.

[shippingmath]

Dirk's busy himself this evening- there are plenty of people he promised a fireworks show to, up on the island, and he's not about to give up on something like that, especially when he spent the month or so after that time preparing the fireworks.

He's never so distracted that he wouldn't notice the new decorations around the Plaza, or the troll putting them up, though. And he isn't rushed for time, so he sees nothing wrong with approaching Signless about it, hands stuck casually in his pockets.

"Looks pretty good."

I can't remember if they've talked before or not!

[onlyasign]

"Thank you." Sufferer offers Dirk some candles and bags. "Would you like to help?"

[p2iioniicii2t]

Psii hasn't been functioning very well in the past few weeks, but it probably wasn't something most people would take note of. He's been making some major strides, however. Admittedly, at one point about a week ago he'd just spontaneously broken down entirely and ended up under Dualscar's bed, but it was still progress all the same.

He doesn't say anything when he finally approaches-- he'd followed Signless out here, but didn't want to intrude. Instead, he sits on the edge of the fountain awkwardly with his knees up to his chest. It might look odd, especially given that he's wearing a sweater he's practically swimming in, but he's just going to quietly help with the lanterns from that spot.

Signless couldn't reach high up, after all, and the rest of the Plaza deserves that light, too.

[onlyasign]

Sufferer knew Psii was following him, but that wasn't anything out of the ordinary; he's used to having Psii bob after him like a large, softly glowing balloon. He's noticed the improvements in Psii's mental state, but hasn't said much about them; he's afraid that if he points them out, Psii will get self-conscious about them and stop. So he's staying quiet in the Plaza, aware of Psii's presence and help, but comfortable enough around him that it doesn't need to be acknowledged.

He starts humming under his breath, a tune the human called Marty McFly taught him.

[blessedbyfarore]

[Link wasn't here last year, and the combination of coloured paper and flickering lights is sufficiently enough like fairies to draw his attention.]

[He approaches slowly, pausing when he realises what's actually happening. Should he leave him be? But he wavers instead, then calls out softly.] Do you want some help?

[onlyasign]

[Sufferer looks up, and although it takes him a moment, he eventually blinks in recognition. Someone who looks this much like Sola could only be one person.]

Link, right? [He smiles gently.] I'd love some help, thank you.

late late sorry

[replicatedcourage]

It's really pretty.

[Here's Sola with a smile, thinking nothing more of the near-meditative exercise than cheery lights. He walks up to Signless and offers a hand in a gesture that shows he wants to help.]

It'd be really cool if we could make the fire different colors.

never too late for you, bby!

[onlyasign]

Thank you, Sola.

[Sufferer considers that request for a moment as he hands Sola some bags and candles of his own.]

Do you know how to make flames be different colors?