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[ a bit of awkward fumbling introduces the video before Madoka's face appears, she settles back to her place on the floor and smiles. ] Um- hello everyone!

With Christmas gone by and New Years Eve today, I couldn't help but think about all of the other holidays or traditions from other worlds. I already know a lot about the ones on Earth, or well... the ones in Japan and some ones outside of it like Thanksgiving but I never get to hear about any of the special days in the worlds outside of Earth. [ she laughs. ] Or maybe I'm just not listening well enough to the network.

So maybe you can tell me, while we're waiting for the New Year to begin, about your the days you celebrate back home. Perhaps we could make our own calendar here, full of holidays that represent us all.

[ she pauses briefly, her smile softening a fraction. ] I know we're in the middle of a war here and maybe it's childish, but I can't help but think that things from home... even little ones like this can bring some joy to all of us here.

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[he has his arms folded over the flat area of a table, and is leaning in a bit toward the tablet, his hood pulled up.]

The Midgardian celebrations may be as diverse as those from other realms. Most of which I'm told are gift-giving and gift-bearing holidays where the recipients complain over the knit footwear they so desperately need.

[this gets a thoughtful look.]

Perhaps we should just mark every day on the calendar as "party time."

Midgardian? [ Madoka is quiet, thinking but can't seem to remember if she heard that word before. ] Well- do you have any favorite celebrations? And that does seem to be one thing a lot of us have in common, including the generally dislike of socks as gifts.

[ oops, she laughs at that last part. ] We really do seem to enjoy our parties, huh?

[he doesn't seem to clarify. there are more important things!!]

Not at all, I wouldn't want to make any celebrations feel bad, let's just say I'm one to enjoy them all! Such a variety of them does allow room for comparison, but each one reminds us why the other is important?

[okay, he tried? that was pretty good.]

Parties are important to raise the spirits. So let's party hard!

[jazz hands!]

I guess that's true! I think I enjoy all the one we celebrate back home and even some of the ones I learned about while I've been here. I don't think I could just pick one over the others.

[ the jazz hands are new and she laughs again, nodding. ] Maybe we could have another masquerade again in the future.

[he leans a cheek on his hand and his elbow on the table.]

A masquerade? You mean where identity is kept under wraps for the thrill of the mystery-sort-of-party? That sounds very grown-up.

Mm... I don't think anyone was really trying to hide their identity, but that would be fun too! It was very nice though, nicer than any party I had been to before- we even got to host it in this beautiful palace in France.

[consider his interest piqued.]

You speak of a party here held in France? This masquerade?

Yeah, exactly! They closed off some of it so we couldn't wonder off, but we got to explore a whole lot while everyone was there for the party.

Nah. It's not childish. Back on Earth, back home… I never wanna let anything take away Christmas.

Yeah, me either. [ even if she hardly has anything to worry about back home now. ] I think Christmas is my favorite holiday and since I came here... it's become that much more important to me.

[His own smile has a hint of homesickness to it. He doesn't think it's childish at all.]

My people have two holidays; we are still a new race, only about fifty years old.

On Midsummer's Day, we celebrate the Day of Hope: the anniversary of the day we found eggs with females in them, and thus, hope for a future. The females decided to make it a day for claiming mates, as well.

Wow, only fifty years? Then there's a lot of time for more to be created.

But the Day of Hope? [ she smiles a little, a holiday with a name like that... more of them could use one. ] Hope for the future, that sounds like a wonderful thing to celebrate.

Once things settle, yes.

[He nods.]

I doubt the particular details of it are relatable to most others here, though.

[For obvious reasons.]

Our other holiday is Victory of the Living and Victory of the Dead, on two consecutive days. We are a military people. On the first day, we recognize those still with us from past battles and wars. And, on the second day, we recognize those who have died.

[ Madoka cannot comment and say things like, "It'll happen, definitely!" but she does quietly hope for those things to settle. ]

Ah! We have days like that back home, at least in my country... but there are days and festivals where we honor the spirits of our ancestors.

[ Soft: ]

It's not.

[ there's a smile still, Madoka sighing softly and nodding at the unfamiliar voice. ]

I'm glad then. I always worry that maybe I should be focusing more on fighting than say... learning how to knit or wondering about holidays.

Holiday traditions are just as important.

Mm, I think so too. I know we can't celebrate everything, but everyone seems to have holidays that are important to them or ones that can bring us together and remember the good things.

Plus! It's good if we take the chance to learn about one another.

Exactly.

[ A pause. ]

How do you celebrate New Year's in Japan?

It's a big celebration for us! Bigger than Christmas and it's really a time for family... it's not so much of a party, I suppose. I would spend most of my time with my family since my mom would always take time off work for New Years.

During December we would wish our friends and relatives a Happy New Year by sending cards, sort of like how its popular for others to send Christmas cards. And then usually on the first, we visit the local shrines and wish for a good year and also choose our fortunes. [ she pauses, sighing a sad little sigh. ] The last time I was home the fortune I pulled was bad luck.

We also eat a lot of traditional food like broiled fish cakes and black soy beans, it's the best! [ because food is super important too. ]

[ Gotta love good food during the holidays. ]

It sounds lovely. Not the fortune part, though.

It's a lot more fun when you get the best luck, but it's nice to try and go against the bad luck though! [ even if it didn't always work in her favor. ]

What sort of things would you do for New Years?

We do parties back home. Food, drink, music... usually watch the countdown in Times Square on TV.

Ah! I've seen the countdown in New York on TV too.

I really loved watching the fireworks and confetti too, I think I'd love to go even if I think I might get lost among all the people there.

Getting lost might be more fun than we think.

That is true, sometimes... I think. I had fun getting lost in the palace we went to in France when we had that masquerade.

I didn't enjoy getting lost in the mountains of Tibet so much, though...

[ A beat. ]

Tibet?

Mm, I went there with a friend to get food when we first arrived on the moon base.

Instead of appearing near the village, we were on a mountainside high above the village. I thought we were both going to fly off!

That's strange, but the Transporter doesn't appear to operate properly.

Must have been cold.

And usually, if it's off- it's not so bad but that time was rather startling.

It wasn't so bad but... it probably helped I had magic to help keep me warm, haha. Otherwise I probably wouldn't have been able to stand it.

How was it? Never been to Tibet. Been to Tokyo once.

It was really beautiful, we weren't that far from the Himalayas and I think I spent more time awe-stuck than anything.

Did you like Tokyo?

Didn't get to stay long, but it was nice. Bright and lively.

[ She had spent some of her training in Tokyo. A very brief affair. ]

I was able to visit Tokyo a few times back home, but I haven't gone so much while I've been here.

[ only one time sticks out and that was when that world was destroyed... ]

I've gotten to really enjoy my time here though, my dream was always to travel... I never guessed it would be through time too!

Where are you from?

That's a nice thought. [ If a bit childish, but Tear keeps that thought to herself. ]

Unfortunately, I don't know how well that will work. Not all of our worlds are likely to match up. This world's solar rotation lasts 365 days, but my home planet Auldrant's lasts 765. Our year is a good deal longer than yours.

That is true, but that doesn't mean we can't work something out to make sure everyone could be represented. [ forever optimistic. ]

I think you're the first person I met though whose home world is so vastly different in the number of days make up the year. [ to be honest, it's sort of exciting. in fact it might just show- ] How many months makes up a year in your world? What about the days of the week? And how—

[ there's a pause and then a small, nervous laugh. ]

... Ehehe, sorry. I guess I got a little excited.

You have nothing to apologize for.

As for Auldrant, we have thirteen months, each composed of 58 days, except for Lorelei Decan, which has sixty. I don't know how that would translate to Earth time.

[ a pause ]

And I'm Tear.

My name is Madoka, it's nice to meet you!

[ hmm- that was quite a lot of time. ]

Hmm- well, what are your seasons like? Maybe we can try and match them up that way.

That's a nice thought.

I'm from Earth too, so I dunno if I'll be much help.

What have you got so far?

Thanks and that's not true! I'm from Earth but there are still a lot of holidays from other countries I don't know about.

[ haha, well... ]

New Years, Thanksgiving and Christmas... so far.

[ She exhales softly in amusement, but not in a patronizing way. ]

Gotta start somewhere.

Halloween's 'nother one to add to the list.

[ Of course Madoka would be trying to lift everyone's spirits. Of course. ]

... Don't let anyone tell you that it's childish. I think what you're doing is important.

Sayaka-chan. [ she grins, nodding. ]

Ri-right, everyone I've spoken with has been really nice though! I'm learning a lot.

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