[Citadel- Shin Akiba] New Years Party! [OPEN]

"Julian you..."
Michelle was surprised at Snow's abrupt departure.

"It's not even midnight yet..."

She turned to Laykar.

"Don't take it for yourself. He talked about himself, in public, and it's not easy for him I think. You should contact him again via CDN someday, I think he likes you."

He had thought the conversation was proceeding smoothly, but the blunt response and abrupt departure of Snow left Laykalar feeling confused, and uncertain as to what had happened. Had he erred in responding to questions in kind? The answer he'd received from the human was surprising, and even slightly shocking - apparently Snow had behaved disruptively and at odds with the law, and was now on some form of official redemptive service. But then, as he had just himself explained, the Great Storm and the Darkening had proven disruptive to everyone, hadn't they? Adherence to correct behavioural doctrine was always the first casualty of disaster. Just like the aftermath of his own people's Greatest War: everyone was working their way back to stability now, swimming against their own demonic tide to establish a hopefully more illuminated future. Regardless of his impropriety, Snow was apparently committed to that journey. So maybe his first impression had been right after all?

Adding to the confusion, Michelle was addressing him again, informing him that the exchange had indeed been productive, and that Snow had liked him. He took comfort in that; the charity worker must have a strong and charismatic intellect indeed to be appointed tutor to those in need of personal reformation! Yes. He would pay heed to her insights.

He addressed her now:

"This one also enjoyed the conversation, and would be pleased to talk with the other, Snow, again. This one is also pleased to have met with the learned other herself! On behalf of the scholarly community of the Greater Encompassing, this one wishes the learned other success in the next year!"

A well-dressed man and Snow departed before she could offer a response. The man who approached was unfamiliar- But he knew her by name. The woman straightened her posture and focused her attention. "I- I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, Mr..?" The blonde raised a brow, offering a hand over for a shake. Oh crap- If this is an assassin I am so fucked. The thought passed her mind briefly.

The time was just before midnight- Ten or so minutes, it seems.

"Redford. Charles Redford, at your service. I'd offer forth a hand, but..." he nodded towards his plate and glass.

"Mr. Redford." The blonde thought about what she could say. "It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. Do I know you from the forum?" She'd take up another plastic cup of punch and take a socially-anxious sip.

"You could say that, yes. I'm an old friend of James Greene."

"Hi Charles, I'm Michelle, this is Laykalar.
Who's James Greene? A CDN member?"

[Redacted] nodded politely at them. "A pleasure to meet you. And yes, James is a member of Cerberus Daily News, though he has not been around recently. Who, I shall keep to myself, as he is a rather private person who would not wish his real name widely known."

You know what? These people are weird. I mean, I should just go... I know, the presidium seem like a nice place for a quick swim. I dive in, take a quick swim, get out, go back to Mombasa. What could go wrong?
And so, almost as oddly and abruptly as he arrived, Alex left, in order to break a minor law he didn't know about.

Sarah lit up- Recognition. There was the moment she realized exactly whom she was talking to. She cleared her throat, glanced to HereToHelp and then to the new arrival. "So, Mr. Redford- Any friend of his is a friend of mine. Come with me, I've got to introduce you to the chef!" Exuberance and wrung hands. Despite a brief wobble- The woman made her way to the back, going through a double set of doors and passing a line of waiters.

The man smiled slightly and followed.

"Ok that's nice I..."

Then Mombasa bolted. For some reason.

"Ho no you don't!"

Michelle started following, running a little between the guests. She passed the donation box, grunted, came back to the charity box.


Happy new year you Slaves4Us fuckers, your dirty money will do some good.

She started running again, briefly checking her omni-tool. 5 minutes to midnight.

She bumped poor Alina, got rasperry juice all over her, her hair was a mess, her glasses were sideways. Once outside she could see him not far in the street.

"Hey!"

Doran didn’t really intend to show up at the party, but sometime in the middle of the night she ended up wandering out the door anyway.

Instead of her usual uniform (which was almost always full armor, when she could get away with it) she wore one of the high-necked shirts that was so popular in the years before the war, and a pair of loose black slacks. The vaguely fashionable outfit was more a matter of accident than anything. It was bought to fulfill only two points: it had to include red, and there couldn’t be any yellow. She almost looked normal for the first time in several years.

The small shield generator clipped to her belt shattered the illusion, but it was unlikely anyone would notice or care. About half the room was completely smashed anyway.

Her omnitool flashed as she slipped into the room, and a glance revealed that the area was flagged, prompting her to send a donation. A dialed-in authentication code forwarded a small sum to the account set up for the event. With that Doran made a beeline for the alcohol, eventually ending up with a bubble-shaped glass of some unidentifiable colorful liquid. So of course she scanned it with her omnitool… not that she was paranoid or anything.

Sarah went through a set of double doors into a very active kitchen. She'd rake her hands through her hair, turning to engage 'Mr. Redford.' She crossed her arms and bit the tip of her tongue, trying to think of what to say- "What's got you on the Citadel?" She asked- Not what she wanted to say, but the filter of shock only allowed small talk- Something to break the ice.

The head chef was in the distance, eyeing the two briefly as she worked on mixing another bowl of punch. A harmless additive- And the punch illuminated, with a small blast of sparkle along the surface.

"Well, I haven't been back on the Citadel since the coup attempt, and I thought it would be nice to visit the station. And Earth, of course." He took a long sip of brandy, before adding,
"I'm also helping a friend of mine re-open his chocolate shop."

"Is there any way I can help?" Chris spoke as she approached, wringing her hands on a cloth. "I'm trying to get a competitive edge on the other places in Tayseri, and if you're a friend of Sarah's.." She took a drink of brandy from a bottle, rethinking a pass to Sarah before returning it to the metal counter.

Sarah rubs her forehead, a wrinkle creasing in her brow. "I... Mr. Redford." She clapped her hands together. "You- ..uh. I'm still unsure of what to say. I've been waiting to talk to you for a long time."

[Redacted] looked at the approaching woman and smiled. "You must be Chris. A pleasure to meet you." Turning back to Sarah, he asked, "Well then, by all means. Talk away."

Michelle didn't catch Alex. It put a serious damper on her mood.

Meh. He was cute but stupid anyway.

She checked her watch, 2 minutes to midnight.

She came back in the club, a decided look on her face. She would kiss someone nice at midnight, damn it! She grabbed a drink that the waiter just poured on her way, drink it hole, then crushed a mint in her teeth.

One minute.

Alex bolting, Julian bolting, Sarah so drunk she barely stood. Humans were stupid.

She converged on the small group of Sarah, Redford, Laykar and the new comer Doran.

Ten seconds.


She passed right passed them while everyone was counting down.

"8"
"7"
"6"
"5"
"4"
"3"
"2"
"1..."

She pressed her lips on the front of the hanar for a chaste but still remarkably surprising kiss.

"HAPPY NEW YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!"

2188 was starting.

He was leaning against the railing of the Presidium lake. The fire works had died down, and for once, the presidium had shut off the holographic display that was the sky. Whilst it was difficult to see earth, at least at this angle, it was still there. And around it, in all directions, the glistening night sky.
This poectic, totally original, brilliance, was ignored by the Kenyan.
"I hope I can hit the water from this high up."
He was half way through removing his shirt before he heard the sound of rushed footsteps.