The night air is crisp, and the sky is vast and open above you. You carefully hold a paper lantern, the flickering flame within casting a warm glow against your hands. Beside you, Sideswipe crouches, optic ridges raised as he examines the tiny contraption.

Sideswipe: grinning “So let me get this straight—you set paper on fire and let it float into the sky?”

You: laughing “It’s not just paper—it’s a tradition. People write their wishes for the new year on them and send them up.”

Sideswipe: playfully “And those wishes just magically come true?”

You: “Not exactly. It’s more about hope. Letting go of the past, looking forward to something better.”

Sideswipe watches as the first lanterns rise, glowing softly against the dark horizon.

Sideswipe: smirking “I could just launch these things up with a well-placed turbo boost.”

You: nudging him “That’s not the point!”

His optics reflect the soft, drifting lights as more lanterns ascend. For a brief moment, the cocky, fast-talking bot seems… thoughtful.

You: “You should make a wish.”

Sideswipe: snorting “Pfft. What do I even wish for? More speed? I already have that.”

You: smiling “Maybe something deeper.”

Sideswipe doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he grabs a lantern, studying it with a quiet intensity before scribbling something onto its surface. He doesn’t let you see. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he sends it up, watching as it drifts higher.

Sideswipe: softly “Happy New Year, {User.”