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

I'm lov Rice sm

[rosesandrolanberries]

At first, Spiced didn't think the person was talking to her. But when she glanced over her shoulder, there stood a Viera, staring rather intently at her. She looked over her shoulder quickly, but there was nobody else around for her to be staring at. So she looked back to the - worryingly pink - Viera, training her face into a polite smile rather than the look of gormless surpise she no doubt wore until then. "Oh... Good evening Ma'am."

The woman - she looked young, but Spiced knew the Viera were long-lived and she was probably older than her - had dark hair with a flash of pink in the fringe and eyes a similar colour, though one was brighter than the other. Eyeshadow and facepaint highlighted large, wide eyes that stood out from her almost concerningly pale skin. Or, at least, it would have been pale, if it weren't... rather red.

She turned to face the Viera. "Are you alright?" She noted the reaching hand that hovered mid-air - looked as if she was ready to tap her shoulder, had she not turned. "Is there something I can do for you?"

Rice is so useless

[voidalviera]

"I- Um- Drink! I mean- I- _shit."

The woman takes a while to shake her head. Snap out of it!

"I'm sorry, I promise I'm not intoxicated," she speaks, and Spiced will be able to recognise the far-eastern accent. "I just, well, would you like to get a drink with me?" She manages.

It's been a long, long time since she's talked to someone outside of necessity or small talk, longer still since she's initiated the conversation.

She finds herself rather in uncharted waters...

Hello yes I would like to hug her very much

[rosesandrolanberries]

She stuttered over her words for a moment, and Spiced got gradually more and more concerned, then she shook her head - rather violently, in fact. Wide eyed, she was just reaching out to steady the woman when she stopped to speak again. Spiced blinked a few times until an understanding washed over her - incomplete and incorrect as it may be. She's so thirsty she's disoriented, poor thing.

"O-of course!" She turns and points... "The Drowned Wench is..." Then thinks better of it. Just in case she was too addled to understand the directions. Just in case she might pass out on the way. Just in case... And she wanted to see for herself that the girl was alright.

So she reached out again, this time gently grasping her wrist. "Here, I'll take you. Stay with me, okay?" She began to weave her way through the crowd with some haste, but just as much care not to tug. Wouldn't want to knock her off her feet, after all.