MPC 58B: New Promises [complete]

MPC Name: New Year Festival
MPC Number: 58B
Reward Requested: 15 Posts
Word Count: 1027

Volunteering to work over the holidays wasn’t as bad as some people made it out to be. The extra money was always nice, but that had never been the biggest draw for Sunny. The patrons at the bar she worked at, she didn’t think of them as customers. Instead they were friends, and some even crossed the line into being considered family. Holidays were best spent with good company. While a majority of the bar was filled with small groups who wanted to get out and celebrate on these days there were inevitably others who drank alone for whatever reason.

Sunny couldn’t measure the genuine happiness she could give others through warm smiles, friendly greetings, and good drinks. Not everyone would respond so kindly, of course. However, those that did made her day; and she hoped in turn that she did the same for others. Having seen many of these people at their highs and lows the woman had fostered a very real connection to them. Something real and meaningful enough that she would willingly come in during the holidays, and make sure she could keep as many of them smiling as possible.

Even now as Shibuya was mere minutes away from midnight on the last night of the year, Sunny was hard at work. The bar was louder and livelier than it usually was thanks to the festivities, but that hardly distracted the woman in her duties. She poured a mixed drink from a cocktail shaker into small shot glasses held by just as many happily tipsy patrons. The partygoers cheered her on and raised their glasses in a toast once she finished, and Sunny did the same with her shaker, echoing their farewell to the old year. Although, as soon as she turned her back to the crowd at the counter to clean her shaker a feeling of impatient irritation washed over her. It seemed that not everyone was enjoying themselves.

‘Is something wrong, Aurelia?’ asked Sunny silently as she went back to what she was doing with a calm smile.

‘You already know how I feel about your civilized servitude to these-’

‘These people,’ interrupted the human as politely as she could, ‘came here tonight to celebrate with us. Don’t worry, though! I promise to take us outside so we can watch the fireworks!’

‘...I’d rather look at the moon and stars,’ commented the spirit with a disinterested sigh.

‘But there’s going to be red fireworks, too! You’ll love it! Besides, you’ve been telling me that I don’t understand what fighting is, right? So I thought I’d show you I do.’

‘This is not fighting.’

‘Isn’t it, though? Doing your best for something you believe in?’

Turning back to the counter and a wave of new faces ready for refills. Aurelia didn’t answer her, but Sunny knew the digimon was still paying attention. Sunny expertly memorized and served up a handful of different drinks, all with their own personal smile and well wishing. After that wave of people were cleared from the counter the bartenders were given a brief reprieve as the last minute til the New Year ticked down. Recognition of the countdown put the woman on full alert. A little out of breath but not out of spirit Sunny grabbed a thermos from a fridge before quickly walking out of the building through an employee’s exit.

The woman exhaled in relief as she closed the door behind her. As much as she enjoyed the infectious energy inside some relative peace was a godsend. From her pocket she pulled out her digivice and quickly transformed into Lunamon. In several quick hops she traversed to the roof of the bar, still holding onto her thermos.

‘Running away from your fight?’ inquired Aurelia finally.

“Not at all! Just! Just, uh.. Gimmie a sec!” panted Sunny as she caught her breath. “Whew! Okay, so! Battling for what’s important to you! I get that! And you’re important to me too, Aurelia. I said I’d show you the fireworks, so here we are! If you want to see it for yourself, I’m not going to resist.”

“Why you resist me at all is..?” Aurelia paused, realizing that she was indeed in control of their shared body. It was an unexpected development given her dislike of the human world. “...a mystery,” she finished quietly as she flexed her free hand. The sound of fireworks drew her attention to the night sky. As always she would have preferred to watch the moon and stars slowly slide across the black of night. However, there was an undeniably lighthearted charm to the display of colorful explosions in the distance.

‘Happy New Years, Aurelia!’ beamed Sunny’s voice in their shared consciousness.

“To you as well,” conceded the spirit softly. Glancing down to the thermos, Aurelia uncapped it to sniff at its contents. The aroma was undeniably fruity. “What is this for?”

‘It’s a drink I made for you! A chilled, strawberry and pomegranate mojito. Hope you like it, partner!’

Aurelia stopped to consider things for a few long seconds before responding again.

“You fight weird, but... Maybe you do understand. Just leave the real brawls to me, though.” The spirit smirked and sipped at the sweet cocktail, her gaze returning to the fireworks. Silence took over their conversation for a brief while. At least until Aurelia spoke again. “There is a light I want to show you in the digital world. Once we are stronger I will take you to it as my gift to you.”

‘Do you mean that uhm, luminati city?’

“Luminas,” corrected Aurelia quietly, for once not entirely bothered by Sunny’s ignorance of the digital world. “And no, not there. I will take you to our moon.”

‘The moon? Do you really mean it?’ The awe in the human’s voice was palpable.

“Yes. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve last been there, obviously. But, I think you have what it takes to get us there. ...probably.” The last word was slipped in rather smugly before Aurelia resumed drinking from the thermos. She ignored Sunny’s ensuing complaints about being teased, instead focusing on the delicious flavor of her mojito.