here are frost flowers swirling to life on the cool glass of the window, silver and white and flawless as they curve beneath her fingers. the barest sprinkling of snow drifts from the heavens in a light dusting across the city - a specially crafted day brought to by various weather mages commissioned by the mayor, carefully monitored by the purifiers keeping an eye on the weather patterns. the day is just beginning to dawn, layers of white snow shaded gold and pink and daylily orange by the sun that spills across the horizon ushering in the day; all across the city, people are stirring even in this early hour in anticipation for the festival of snow.

kaelin smiles as she makes her way off the train and towards where she has been requested; for as long as she had lived in mirrorlight, she has attended this festival for every year she can remember. her earliest memories of ice performances stem from here, and her earliest memories of performing take their root in this too. it has only been a few weeks since her move to sundial, but already returning here is inciting heartsickness and beautiful nostalgia like she has never experienced before.

the streets are quiet. with her bagged skates slung over her shoulder and kiska curled in her hair, surroundings familiar and the hour early, it almost feels like just another day before that turning point a few weeks prior. her familiar nudges her head, and kaelin’s smile turns bittersweet. kiska is right. she should not dwell on the past, on what-ifs and could-have-beens.

shaking her head, she reaches the large exhibition building in which various works of art and ice will be placed on display, and where there is ample space for performances too. there are few people present, though she spots several familiar faces and waves at them with a smile. her own partner does not appear to be here yet, although that is unsurprising given that kaelin is early by several minutes. no matter. she can start to prep for a warm up and practice routine while she waits.