#very loose interpretation of the prompts slkdfsd

[barry-j-blupjeans]

@taznovembercelebration day 23: tradition, break

“So you’re not much of a party person, huh?” Magnus asked, sliding into the seat across from her. Lucretia startled and nearly dropped her pen. She slammed the notebook shut, making way too much of a scene. Magnus didn’t seem to notice.

“I think I can enjoy a- a decent party once and a while,” Lucretia said in her best Madam Director voice. “New years just… isn’t my favorite.”

They were out on the quad of the moonbase. A decent way aways from them, a New Years party was in full swing. She had put Avi in charge of fireworks, which seemed to have been a good idea, but she had the feeling so was going to need to step in soon. She could see Angus sitting on the grass, big bulky soundproof headphones covering his ears, and staring up at the fireworks in wonder. Lucretia wished she had the foresight to buy some, but when it came time, it always seemed she had forgotten.

“Yeah?” Magnus said, barely heard over the firework. “Uh, me too. It just feels… bad.”

Lucretia didn’t respond. She watched Merle do a dance he wasn’t supposed to even know existed and saw Carey fall over with laughter. Killian tried to help her up, but took one look at Merle doing a ridiculous movement with his arms, and turned away to hide her own laughter. She turned her attention to the sky.

“I don’t know what it is,” Magnus was saying. “But it’s nice to know that I’m not alone, at least. Do you just not like the noise, or? I think Angus has some extra headphones if you want.”

“Does he?” Lucretia said distractedly. Another three fireworks went off, one after another, and Lucretia tried not to let herself get too focused on it. The contrast of the colors on the otherwise black sky was- it was-

She took a deep breath.

“Yeah,” Magnus said again. She looked away as a few more went up into the sky, only to see Magnus wince as they went off. The colors light up his face in a light show of reds and greens and yellows and Lucretia lost the deep breath she had just taken for all the wrong reasons. In the back of her mind, she could see him, cycle one, running past her as she made her way to the ship. She hadn’t tried to stop him, to get him back on board. Not for the first time, Lucretia had to wonder if she was the reason he had died that cycle.

“I don’t think Merle or Taako like it either,” Magnus said in her silence. He pointed Taako in the crowd, like Lucretia could miss him with his hat. He seemed to have tripped over Angus. Angus didn’t seem to mind. Taako said something and Angus frowned. Lucretia saw him dig through his bag for a moment. “Though I think Merle’s trying his best to hide it.” And back to Merle, who had dragged Davenport into his dance. It would have been funny if Lucretia hadn’t seen it all before.

“It’s a weird holiday,” Lucretia said, not sure how she could say anything else.

“I feel like I’m supposed to be doing something,” Magnus confessed as the sky lit up again. “Like I’m supposed to be on the lookout for something. Not that I’m- I’m never not on the lookout. But it’s worse on New Year. Julia says-”

Magnus stopped himself. Lucretia saw the colors flash against his face again.

“I’m gonna get a drink,” he said, lifting himself up. “D’you want anything? Is that weird to ask?”

“Just some water would be nice, thank you,” Lucretia said, turning to look back towards the sky. Another few fireworks went off and she tried not to see the Hunger in the colors.