New Year's Eve
Eirwen Walter has kept her head down through all the family drama, separated from it by distance in the safety of Nordhaven. Today is New Year's Eve: a time for resolutions, fresh starts, and time spent with the people who are meaningful in her life. And, of course, a night for fun, drinking, and partying until the clock strikes midnight. What better holiday could there possibly be?
Eirwen had managed to coast by unnoticed through much of the drama of the last season, sticking to the shadows and outer edges of the family circle. She worked hard, preparing to open her business, studying magic, and steadily working her way through the ranks of Nordhaven's crime syndicate. She wasn't high enough up to be considered significant yet, but she was getting there.
Eirwen's mornings started with garden work, tending to her plants and collecting prairie grass for her specialty prairie nectars. They were a little niche, but from her research extremely popular among the Chestnut Ridge locals. They were sure to have tourist appeal even if they weren't as popular with Nordhaven's crowd.
Once the garden was tended to, Eirwen got to work on the actual nectar crafting. She didn't trust anyone other than herself to do this part, and that was partially why it was taking so long to actually open the shop. It was worth it, though. Not a single bottle of nectar was below excellent quality, and now it had time to age.
This week, though, she intended to finally open.
Not today, though. Today was New Year's Eve, and she had invited her brother and closest friends to come over and celebrate with her. She had no interest in hosting the entire family, but she would have a couple people over to watch the Countdown.
Hosting meant cooking, though, and that had never been her favorite thing.
Putting off that responsibility for a while, Eirwen sat down to write in a journal instead. She had kept it on and off since her teen years, but always picked it up on New Year's Eve.
Her resolutions this year were fairly straightforward: get the business open and running, and get promoted in the crime ring. This would be the year where all her plans would fall into place, she was certain of it.
She couldn't put it off anymore, though: she had to cook. She kept it pretty simple, just an appetizer for people to snack on and a bowl of apple cider punch. No reason to go any bigger than that, she thought, it wasn't like this was Winterfest. Maybe she would break out a bottle of blackberry nectar.
Eirwen had invited Carlos and his girlfriend Mirabel, and her two friends Sterling and Lina. Inviting Sterling to things was always a bit of a risky move, given he was Judith Ward's stepson and constantly hounded by the press, but she did it anyway. She wasn't scared of a few overly nosy reporters.
Lina had recently moved to Nordhaven as well, into an apartment down the road. Eirwen had promised her a job at the business when they opened, and she was working odd jobs in the meantime. It certainly added more urgency to getting things ready to open, but Eirwen wasn't worried.
The five of them sat around Eirwen's small dining table, talking about how the past year had gone and what the new one would bring. Carlos was becoming well known in the freelance community, and starting to get better commissions. He and Mirabel were talking about buying a horse, so that she could start training for competitions.
Sterling was starting a culinary degree that term at Del Sol University. He had wanted to go to Britechester, but his stepmother had rejected the idea. Generations of Wards had gone to Del Sol University, and now that he bore her name, he must do the same.
"I'm surprised she's letting you do a Culinary Degree." Lina remarked. "It doesn't seem like a career path she would've approved of."
"Oh, I'm not going to be a Chef." Sterling answered. "Food Critic. That she approves of."
"How about you, Lina?" Mirabel asked. "What are you doing in the new year?"
"Working for Eirwen." Lina laughed. "I just got an apartment, I'll be her bartender when she opens."
"That's great news." Carlos smiled.
"It'll be good to be working with a friend." Eirwen nodded. "Don't go spreading it around, but the goal is this weekend."
"That's great!" Sterling told her. "I can't wait to see the shop."
"Are you still working at the Oasis Springs Equestrian Center?" Eirwen asked Mirabel.
"I am." Mirabel confirmed. "Just for now, at least. It's good money and working with horses, until I can get enough experience to do competitions for a living."
"That's good. Are you staying in Oasis Springs permanently, then? I had heard that you were going to move to Chestnut Ridge."
"I was, but Carlos and I decided it would be better for me to stay." Mirabel smiled at Carlos tenderly as she said that. Eirwen resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Her brother and his girlfriend were far too lovey-dovey in public.
"Okay, come on, guys, the Countdown is starting!" Lina urged, interrupting the conversation. They all crowded into the corner around Eirwen's TV, watching the broadcast together.
"...from Brindleton Bay, Grand Duchess Margaret wishes everyone a happy New Year, and for the success of future explorations. Now, to Ondarion, where Grand Duchess Jawara..."
The news placed far too much emphasis on the nobility, these days, Eirwen thought. When she was younger, the New Year's Eve broadcast had always focused on the local communities. But oh well, they were living in the age of royalty.
The filler broadcasts ended, and the actual countdown to midnight began. Five minutes, four, three, two, one...
Fireworks shot off in the sky outside and on the TV, heralding in the new year. Welcome to the Year 3023.
Everyone had to leave not long after that. A special midnight train was running that would get everyone home by morning, since Eirwen didn't have room for all of them to stay the night. She bid them all goodbye, and a Happy New Year. Lina lingered a little longer, since she lived just down the road now.
"This was a great little party, Eirwen. Thanks for inviting us over."
"Of course, I'm glad you came."
Eirwen had plans to sleep in, but those were unraveled by a knock on the door the next morning. Hastily throwing some presentable clothes on, she answered the door to a stranger dressed in a rich red gown, with a tiara on her head. She was unmistakably noble, in wardrobe and stature.
"Can I help you?" Eirwen asked. What in the name of the Watcher was a noble doing at her front door?
"You are Eirwen Walter, daughter of Philip Walter, correct?"
"Who's asking?"
"My name is Grand Duchess Margaret Walter. I am your father's sister, and I would like to talk to you."
And here we have a bit of a cliffhanger! You'll have to come back next week to see what happens next...
I've officially established a year/calendar for my storyline now. The century is 3000 because we're on Generation 3, and the year is 23 because that's how old Ava is! This'll make it easier for me to track things moving forward.
Thank you for reading so far!
- Paxxie
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