Video

[commandandcontrol]

So, assuming I got my months right, we just started a new year!

It's a big cultural celebration where I come from.

Does anyone have plans? I was thinking of trying to make a party. We usually celebrate on the first New Moon of the year.

Comments

video

[backwordscompatible]

Which New Year are you talking about? Because the one I'm used to is celebrated at midnight on January first, not during any specific phase of the moon.

[She asked, mostly out of curiosity, before adding:]

Not that I'm turning down an excuse for a party either way. I think it sounds like a great idea.

[highprofilerichkid]

This is when our new year is, too. We celebrate by getting really, really drunk and watching a huge light-up ball drop from the top of a building.

[It's a stupid tradition. But it's their tradition, dammit!]

[commandandcontrol]

[ Shrug! ]

We just call it New Years in Yellow Comet.

I think most of the other nations do that - celebrate on the first midnight. But we have our own traditions.

[commandandcontrol]

Wow, I'd love to see that!

We tend to go all out for New Years. Parades, fireworks, tons of food and decorations. There's definitely a lot of alcohol involved.

[ Sonja is a super lightweight with booze. ]

[backwordscompatible]

Cool. Like what?

[One in particular came to mind from her own world, but...there wasn't really anyone she felt like celebrating it with at the moment, so little point in bringing it up unless someone else did first.]

[commandandcontrol]

Most of the time we'd congregate to our nearest shrine or temple. There are lots of stalls and shows and parades, and at midnight there's a ringing of the bells.

We also send out postcards to all our friends and families.

Unfortunately there's no participating temples here, and I don't know anyone outside of Keeliai.

[backwordscompatible]

Well, we might not be able to do the shows and parades, but you could probably still pull off some of the others stuff. Postcards and bells shouldn't need more than one person, right? And...I don't know, maybe you could make a shrine? Or visit one of the special locations here instead.

[commandandcontrol]

I suppose if we're going for symbology rather than scale, that's true.

I don't think I could just... make a shrine. I'm pretty sure there's more steps than just 'hey this is a shrine now.'

[ She was no shrine maiden, after all. ]

[backwordscompatible]

[She shrugged a bit sheepishly at that.]

Then stick with the first few.

And the party. That should make up for the lack of parade.

[commandandcontrol]

A local shrine is a good idea, though. I'll ask around to see if any Kedan houses of worship would like to participate.

[bostonhowler]

I think we should do something for New Years. To mark the passage of time if nothing else.

[commandandcontrol]

Great! How do you celebrate the new year?

[backwordscompatible]

[But no, seriously, don't forget the party!]

You're welcome.

Glad I was able to help. It...is always easier when you can find something familiar about this world, isn't it? No matter how long you've been here.

[commandandcontrol]

[ Ain't no party like a turtle party. ]

I suppose!

...do you get homesick? You've been here so long, right?

[ She had a bit of a new lease on the place now that she'd been back since she kind of knew how it 'worked.' But Zatanna didn't really have the benefit of that, did she? ]

[backwordscompatible]

[It wasn't something she talked about that often...but there was also no reason to keep it a secret. So she nodded with little hesitation.]

Since I was fourteen, yeah.

I think about home pretty much every day. The friends waiting for me there. ...my dad.

[commandandcontrol]

[ Wow. She had... grown up here, pretty much.

Years of friends coming and going. And she had welcomed it, literally, by running the welcome center. ]

...

[ She didn't really know what to say. She wasn't good at comfort. Or if comfort was warranted? If Zatanna went back now, what would happen? Would she forget years of her life? That was its own tragedy. ]

Well! We'll try to make this something for you too, then! What did you usually do on New Years?

[backwordscompatible]

[Well...in just a couple months' time, she would save the world from a secret Watchtower in the sky, and then celebrate at the stroke of midnight by kissing her future ex boyfriend.]

No, no, it's fine. You really don't have to do anything.

Focus on your New Years.

[commandandcontrol]

No, I insist!

The party isn't just about me, it's for anyone who wants to celebrate.

[backwordscompatible]

[She waved a half-hearted dismissive hand in the air.]

It's mostly too late, anyway.

The traditions I remember back home mostly revolved around counting down the last ten seconds of the old year while the ball drops in Times' Square, and then kissing someone to welcome in the new year. And I'm kind of out of people to kiss right now, so I don't mind missing out on that part.

[justno]

I'm always down for a party.

[bostonhowler]

Usually by being the designated driver, since I don't drink.

[ It's dry, but amused. ]

And by watching hockey.

[commandandcontrol]

Hockey, huh?

They don't have much in the way of professional sports teams here, do they?

[commandandcontrol]

Hello, I don't think we've met!

My name is Sonja.

[commandandcontrol]

[ Oh right, Jack. ]

Well, I hope it'll be fun all the same, then.

[bostonhowler]

I love hockey, and used to have season tickets, back home.

No, not that I've noticed, anyhow.