snarky_panda (snarky_panda) wrote in mulanficspace, @ 2007-07-21 01:18:00 |
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Current mood: | content |
Current music: | Psyche |
Entry tags: | 30_kisses |
30 Kisses: Mulan and Shang, Part Fourteen
Written for the 30_kisses challenge.
Title: Celebrations, Part 5: New Year
Author: snarky_panda
Fandom: Mulan
Pairing: Li Shang/Fa Mulan
Theme: #23, candy
Disclaimer: All characters, etc. from the Disney movie belong to Disney.
Several weeks had passed since the last holiday fiasco, though the argument between Shang and his mother was still fresh in everyone’s mind. People didn’t forget things like that easily; and they’d found the incident far too entertaining to let it go so quickly.
Now the next holiday had arrived. Shang kissed his wife reassuringly and rubbed her back as they prepared to go off to join the others. Her face was pale and tense, and he knew how nervous she was about this. Even his mother, in her own strange way, was equally so, he realized.
It was time for the New Year celebration, a time of new beginnings. Traditions of the holiday were centered around family and the possibilities of a fresh start; and all of these traditions were honored in the Li family. The house was cleaned, hair cut, new clothes made or purchased, accounts settled. An abundance of assorted candy and sweets was served, a favorite custom for the adults and children alike; eating sweets ensured the eater a sweet year. And a family union dinner of at least ten courses was served.
At first there was tension in the air on this New Year’s Eve as everyone tiptoed around each other, stiffly pleasant and polite. No one wanted to bring in the New Year with a quarrel; it would be bad luck. But as the evening wore on, spirits became lighter and warmer as everyone drank wine, watched the children of the household play and began to relax and really enjoy the festivities. And Lady Li managed a small smile for her daughter-in-law as Mulan wished her a happy and prosperous New Year.
Only small steps had been taken on this evening. They knew that the road ahead would be long and bumpy; but at least it was a start.
This was the holiday for setting aside old grudges.
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