Starlight, Starbright, Won't you dance with me tonight?

[levelthreehooligan]

Throughout the continent, chilly winds herald the change in seasons.

Farmers gather their tools for one final, bountiful harvest before the soil turns too hard to cultivate. Chefs and Bakers gather their retainers, sending them out to find the best ingredients before the competition can. Mercenaries and soldiers take extra care to wax and grease their armors, for stiffness in the limbs due to the cold is a matter of life and death.

Of course, not every part of the realm changes. Thanalan's deserts are too warm at any time of the year, and Coerthas is constantly battered with snow all year round, and yet all know that it is time to gather, to celebrate, to remember. Perhaps even to travel far and wide, and farther still. The Source is not the only place celebrating the ending of this year and the coming of the new.

Starlight is once again returning to Hydaelyn and her Reflections, and the question on everyone's where will this year take us?

Gridania - A Kiss under the Mistletoe

The snows don't touch a lot of the lush greenery of the Shroud, but neither is it unheard of.

The Conjurers and botanists have decorated the City as if it were a bouquet; red berries and holly and sage line the wooden splendour of the city for all to enjoy.

And of course, Fufucha wouldn't leave the mistletoe out! The boughs of the Carline Canopy, strung across the banners of Mih'Khetto's Amphitheatre, dotted along bridges and nooks and crannies are gorgeously presented wreathes of mistletoe, waiting for lovers to notice them.

Ul'Dah - Passions of the Starry Night

Though it's not cold here in the desert, that isn't to say that the festivities aren't in full swing! For, of course, there is drink and merriment to be had! And what would an Ul'dahnian's Starlight look like if not at least a little bit drunk?

Dancing girls in their skimpy clothes offer tasters from brewers, Merchants tantalize shoppers with glittering treasures, fine silks and jewellery in the Sapphire Avenue, and there are a fair amount of Thaumaturges putting on shows for children and adults with reflective ice and shimmering flames.

But be careful, the booze flowing freely means that inhibitions are lower than usual. Bar fights aren't uncommon in the Quicksands, nor are 'secret' trysts in the inn rooms, just what kind of night will you have?

Limsa - Just one Dance

The central plaza is as bustling and busy as it always is, though you can't help but think it feels even busier today!

And of course it would, for everyone's here to celebrate.

The Aetherite has been decorated haphazardly by children throwing tinsel around it's ever-spinning foci, glitter sprinkled onto the surface of the already shining crystal itself; the Yellowjackets don't have the heart to interrupt them or to undo their work. What the hell, they think, it's the holidays.

Bards both solo and troupe line the streets a respectful distance apart, so you are never far away from music!

As the sun sets and the stars start to glitter over La Noscea, they seem to have made a truce, come together for a night of music and dance.

Grab a partner for a song or two, just what is playing and who are you dancing with?

Ishgard - A Warm Meal, a Warm Smile

The King that looks over the Snow.

The spires that call to the dravanian winds.

A warm hearth in the centre of Foretemps manor.

This year, the relationship between Ishgardian and Dravanian has been slowly, but steadily improving. As an act of good faith and in the interests of bringing the groups together, Aymeric has opened the City to them as they Celebrate Starlights.

The scent of mulled wine and honey-roasted boar fill the whole city as the Skybuilder's hand up their tools for the holiday but can't stop themselves from crafting even off the clock. The Firmament is decorated with lights as families that previously resided in the Brume make the most of their new homes.

Though the fare is simple, it's stomach-filling and heartwarming; the Skybuilders and the Denizens of the firmament have made a feast for all to enjoy! Take a seat and have a chat over some steaming food.

Kugane - The Gift of Giving

The streets of Kugane are awash with warm colours, gold and silver and yellows and reds; Lanterns glow in the mild winds and chimes can be heard from stalls as you wander through.

And though the markets are nice, the person or people you've come to meet are waiting for you in the Shiokaze Holstery, and you have something for them with you!

The Crystarium - Just one more sleep

And after it all, there's the night. The blessed night so hard won.

The blanket of stars that you can see over your room in The Pendants. Perhaps you have someone with you as you sit on pillows and blankets, warm in your sleep clothes with a mug of cocoa. Two friends talking the night away, or perhaps something more?

You're tired, but gods if it isn't the good kind. Will you make it through till dawn, or will you fall asleep right then and there?

Comments

[dragoonrouge]

Limsa Lominsa

The chaos of Limsa has intensified on the Upper Decks as a cackling purple blur dashes from The Bismark restaurant with a large basket in hand and angry shouts ringing out behind her.

"Thank you for the loan Mum, I promise to pay you back!" Q'uila calls over her shoulder with a beaming grin.

Q'uila's pace barely slows as she approaches the Aftcastle and starts deftly scaling the rigging and the architecture towards the top. Sure, she could get the the peak in a single jump but where was the fun in that, she could hardly call herself Lominsan if she couldn't scale the largest building in the city.

The stage was set; the platform chosen for its large size and elevation, creating a space large enough for all of her friends and family to comfortably gather and admire the views of Limsa Lominsa spread below and decked in seasonal finery backed by the calming glow of the main aetheryte. Large blankets and pillows occupied the floor and it was all lit by a multitude of stained glass lanterns that Q'uila had carefully strung up to coat the area in multi-coloured lights. Setting up the casks, bottles and food was her last job before she lounged along the edge to bask in the breeze and the slowly setting sun. And the laugh at the others in their ascent up the tower.

"Looks like you lot might make it up here by Starlight proper at this rate. Well done."

[levelthreehooligan]

"Oh, shove five lemons in your mouth you giant pink Spring!" comes the reply.

Uila won't even be able to see Pinya from her perch, overshadowed by the wooden beams as she is.

Gods, why she didn't just use a grappling hook she didn't know. Well, no, she did know; if she'd used one then that meant that Uila would have won and that just wouldn't do.

Eventually, tiny fingers grasp the ledge of her sisters perch, followed by a sack of potato hefing herself up and rolling over the edge.

"Why do you do this? Every year?"

[dragoonrouge]

Q'uila rolls onto her stomach to better direct her faux-innocent smile down at Pinya as she climbs, "Why would I Jump up here when 'tis so easy to climb afterall!"

Her tail curls smugly in the air as she tracks Pinya's ascent and revels in the mutinous expression fixed onto the popoto's adorable face. She knows she's won just like she has every year since they all became an Adventuring party.

Pinya has barely flopped onto the platform before Q'uila is shoving a mug of hot chocolate into one hand and a muffin into the other, "You cut an hour off of your time last year, I am proud of you," The honest praise accompanied by a headpat, "You know why, the challenge makes the reward all the sweeter and 'tis certainly one of Eorzea's premier views."

[levelthreehooligan]

"It's So eAsY to CliMb aFteR alL! Shut your Twelve cursed mouth. You try having Legs measured in Ilms instead of Yalms," she grouches, though takes the hot drink without complaint.

"You're terrible, and you know it. I would much rather have not had to suffer for this view, or simply had Rhok throw me up."

Well, she's in a slightly bad mood, but she's sweaty and achey and mrrgrrgrr

no little girl shenanigans this time, unless you strongly want them d: i can rewrite ez

[katanazero]

Zero stood next to where Q'uila had settled herself to laugh at the others and their climb. Fortunately for him he was a Guest to Eorzea, and thus he was not subjected to such playful torments. The ascent was impressive, and the race was clearly quite competitive between the longstanding group of friends. He'd ask if it were common, this occurrence, but he'd seen other miqo'te do it, and the readiness of the gaggle of friends to start clearly marked it as an annual tradition (at the very least).

"Is this common in all of Eorzea?"

[dragoonrouge]

Q'uila laughs, "Not at all. 'Tis hard for us all to secure time interrupted and though 'tis not as tall as Kugane Tower not many come up and if anyone does make it up here to seek us 'tis probably something serious enough to Warren our attention. Such is the price of our notoriety."

"And you cannot deny the view," Q'uila sweeps an arm out towards the horizon now painted in the ribbons of burning sunset reflected along the waves. "So, does Limsa meet the expectations you had in your head?"

[runawayoctopus]

A slender hand grasped the lip of the large stone slab, followed by a second. After a slight delay a pair of carnelian eyes framed by two large sandy locks of hair peer over.

“I haven’t missed the fun, have I?”

Shortly J’anet was lifting herself over the slight ridge with a small grunt before turning to face her host. Once a year she came back to her favorite city-state to visit Q’uila for the Starlight celebration. Once a year Q’uila made her climb up to the top of the city, but the view was always worth it.

“What fresh heaven have you brought us to eat this year?”

[crouching_sin]

It doesn't take Naoya too long to get to the top, but he's used to physical exertion at this point even if he doesn't like it. He could have Alice fly him up but he knows his sister will complain bitterly about it.

Still, by the time he flops onto the platform he's sweating more than he'd like. He huffs and flops on Q'uila, catching his breath. "Asshole."

[dragoonrouge]

Q'uila's grin is unrepentant and she pokes Naoya's arm, "'Twas not bad for your first attempt, you did better than Pinya on our first Starlight. Keep working hard and we shall get some muscle on those noodles you call arms."

[crouching_sin]

"Not a chance." He bats at her hand a bit before huffing. "I have more leg strength than arm strength, at least in this life. It's not like I ever needed to swing around a big lance like you do. Though I'm working on modifying the COMP to power itself via aether, so maybe I'll at least be able to levitate again soon." He grins.