Countdown to Countdown!

[worked_through_labor_day]

[Video]

[At around noon on the 31st, the following announcement goes out over the network.]

Hello, everyone!  It's New Year's Eve, and I hope you'll join me tonight in counting down the end of one year and ringing in the new!  I'll be in the Virgo Ward at the Statue of Frost all day handing out some things to help everyone celebrate, so I look forward to seeing you all there!

[Action; all day; Statue of Frost]

[Anyone who stops by the statue at any point in the day on New Year's Eve will indeed see Isabelle standing there next to a big digital countdown clock adorned with balloons and other festive decorations.  There's also a small stand set up nearby with glasses of sparkling cider, party hats, and poppers for the big night.  She greets passersby with a big wave and a happy smile, and will gladly chat a bit with anyone who approaches.]

Comments

action

[unbroken_chain]

When Kotoha drops by the clock, she's bundled up in a warm sweater and long skirt - the middle of winter is not the time to be wearing culottes and a summerweight shirt. For once, she's walking slowly, savoring the sound of the slowly melting snow crunching underfoot.

"Happy New Year!"

[worked_through_labor_day]

Happy New Year, Kotoha!

[Isabelle smiles brightly, waving at the young Pokemon trainer.]

[unbroken_chain]

Kotoha rummages through her bag for a moment before drawing out a cylinder and handing it over to Isabelle.

"I thought if you were going to be out here all night I could bring you a hot drink. Mulled cider!"

[worked_through_labor_day]

Oh, how thoughtful! Thank you!

[Isabelle gladly accepts the thermos, cradling it between her hands. She's got mittens on, of course, but it's still pretty cold out here.]

[unbroken_chain]

Kotoha grins.

"No problem! Oh, uh, there's a little bit of cinnamon in there, too - you don't have any allergies, do you?"

action

[istotesbatgirl]

[Misfit appears across the square from Isabelle in her usual costume. She shivers as she crosses the street to the statue.]

Hey, Isabelle. Happy new Year.

[worked_through_labor_day]

Happy New Year, Misfit! Would you like some cider?

[istotesbatgirl]

Yes some cider would be good. Hold on one second.

[Misfit disappears and reappears a minute later with a jacket on.]

Sorry, I forgot how cold it was.

[worked_through_labor_day]

[Isabelle claps excitedly when Misfit reappears, eternally impressed with that trick.]

Here you are!

[And then she gladly hands over a small paper cup filled with cider.]

[istotesbatgirl]

[Misfit accepts the cup from Isabelle.]

About that project I proposed for the city, I got Desco's approval for it.

action;

[trainwrecking]

[Bundled up in a long, thick winter coat and on the way home after fetching a warm coffee, Otonashi encounters... an adorable puppy-girl.]

A New Year countdown clock, huh? Is that what the stand is for too?

[worked_through_labor_day]

Yes, that's right! Would you like some sparkling cider, or a party popper? You wouldn't want to be caught without one during the big countdown!

[trainwrecking]

Sparkling cider? I don't think I've ever even tried that...

[But he looks interested in doing so. He looks down at his coffee, back to the puppy-lady, then back to his coffee again.]

You a coffee drinker?

[worked_through_labor_day]

It's a staple of New Year's celebrations in the town I'm from, so I thought I would share the tradition with everyone here! It's refreshing and fun to drink - the bubbles tickle your nose.

[She giggles a little.]

But yes, I like coffee too. It really helps me get going in the morning so that I can work hard all day!

[trainwrecking]

[Is that much cute legal?]

You probably use it more responsibly than me, haha... Do you plan on doing a lot of, uh, work tonight? With this little -- setup? [He wants to bring the lady a coffee, but only if it won't wreck her sleep later.]

I SPENT MY NEW YEARS WITH ISABELLE in AC aaaa (action)

[softreset]

[ New years, huh? It's been a while since she's seen one of those, and when you're reliving the same month over and over for years and years, it's a little jarring to realize that 2014 is coming after all.

Homura stands in front of the clock, just watching for the time being. ]

[worked_through_labor_day]

[Isabelle smiles at Homura as she approaches, holding out a small paper cup.]

Would you like some cider?

[softreset]

[ A ... talking dog? Interesting... it seems this place is stranger than she thought. But there's a first for everything... plus, it could be an animal suit. ]

...Thank you.

[ She'll gracefully accept the cup with a small curtsy. ]

[worked_through_labor_day]

You're very welcome!

[Yup, big smiles all around over here.]

This is probably a lot of peoples' first New Year's away from their homes, so I wanted to do something to make it special and memorable.

oh my god stop being so cute isabelle

[plunderbunny]

[Did you say. sparkling cider. Is it... warm sparkling cider, by chance. Because Elaine still hates the cold, holiday or not]

[worked_through_labor_day]

[Sadly, it is not. It's basically just a non-alcoholic champagne substitute.

But she is offering it adorably!]

[phantom_envoy]

[Phantom Girl lands lightly on the ground with a small smile.]

...Where do you keep that during the year? Do you have thematically appropriate gear for every holiday?

[yes]

[worked_through_labor_day]

Yes! I'll have something special for Groundhog's Day next month too!

[phantom_envoy]

...What's Day?

[She looks baffled as she blinks back at Isabelle, having wandered over to look at the party hat.]

Isn't that some kind of animal? Why does it have a day?

[worked_through_labor_day]

If it sees its shadow on February 2nd, that means there will be six more weeks of winter. But if it doesn't, there will be an early spring!