middaeg | VALENTINES CHARITY

VALENTINES CHARITY - Feoveuer 14th

♥ THE FESTIVAL OF LOVE ♥

"At the Festival of Love: Shine like thunder
At the Festival of Love: Cry like rain
At the Festival of Love: Hear my calling
At the Festival of Love: Hear my name"

...wait, who prepared this poster? The vibe it gives off is totally wrong... ah, well, it will do! ♥

I. Welcome! ♥

On Feoveuer 14th regulars of DiplomaTea will immediately notice that the place looks different. Fresh flowers, garlands and paper decorations are everywhere, all in lovely shades of pink and red. Heart-shaped confetti is falling from the ceiling, magicked to disappear shortly after touching the floor so it would not make a mess. Quiet music is filling the whole cafe, one of the many masterpieces of Amadeus Mozart and a particual favorite of Marie who picked this particular song to play. Even those who have missed Marie's flyers and announcements about the upcoming event would definitely notice that something joyous is going on inside, why not check it out and join everyone?

If you haven't heard before, the posters will explain everything. Today's event, The Festival of Love celebrates the holiday known as Valentine's Day some Mirrorbound might be familiar with. This is the day to celebrate love in all shapes and forms. Spend a wonderful, romantic evening with your partner... or your friends and family, because these kinds of love are important too! Or get some sweets and eat them all by yourself, because self love is also important! All money collected during today's event will go to aid the refugees and help those who have been affected during last month - celebration of love for your fellow woman, man and everyone else.

a. Preparations ♥

Of course an event this big cannot happen without the help of many. Making and putting up the decorations, enchanting the confetti and music, building the booths, preparing the tables, all of this and much more took almost the whole previous day. Everett will also defintely need part-timers to help tending to the increased number of custoers during the event. If you visited DiplomaTea during that time, you probably couldn't enjoy your drink in peace... or maybe you were roped into helping? Marie gives you a pleading look. Every pair of hands is useful, you know!

II. The Festival of Love ♥

Kissing Booths ♥

Two hastily made but lovingly decorated wooden booths have been placed on DiplomaTea porch. For supporting the cause with a small fee of 100 cunes the person inside will gladly give you a lovely kiss... though you are, of course, welcome to throw an even bigger amount into the donation box! The Mirrorbound staff the booths in shifts so nobody will be forced to sit out the whole event and more volunteers are always welcome... come on, don't you want to support the charitable cause? Marie is quite persuasive, she might find a way to convince you even if it's not something you would have usually agreed to ♥ Or maybe your crush is currently in the booth and this is your big chance? Either way, thank you for your support, good people!

Bake Sale ♥

Are you skilled with the cooking appliances? Would you like these skills to serve a good cause? The tables just next to the main entrance of DiplomaTea have been filled with cakes, pastries and other kinds of sweets donated by Mirrorbound - help yourself to some! You have to pay for it, of course, but all the money collected helps the charitable cause! For those who are not fond of sweet things, savory and spicy snacks are also found on the table.

Did you bring a dish? Would you like to buy something? Or maybe you are just staffing the tables and helping with the bake sale itself? All kinds of help are appreciated! Are you culinarily challenged but refuse to admit it? Thank you for your donation anyway, it is going on sale! Did anyone see the Fae who donated these cupcakes? These appear to be enchanted and eating one will cause you to say the opposite what you mean for fifteen minutes. What do you mean, Marie, we are putting these on sale as well? Could it be... that Fae was... No, impossible!

Auction ♥

Want to support the cause with a bigger sum? As a part of the main event, a couple of items will be auctioned. To show their support, the Coven donated several valuables that could definitely be of use for both Witches and Monsters:
an ornate golden ring Fae-blessed to provide the wearer 12 hours of invisibility (which does not have to be used consecutively, it's 'turned on and off' by rubbing the stone set into it, and does not conceal the wearer from other Fae)
a suit set and a dress that will both transform magically to fit whatever Monster form the wearer has (and will also take on the wearer's color and design preferences)
a book on imbuing baked goods with minor luck spells - good and bad both.
Place your bids now! But that's not everything that will be put on sale today - donations from Mirrorbound are also accepted and will be auctioned! Do you have any items you no longer need and could contribute? Maybe it's something you have crafted yourself? Or a voucher for any kind of services you can provide? Whatever it is, thank you for your donation! Yes, even if it's enchanted. Especially if it is enchanted!

Not donating or buying anything? You could certainly help with the organization part! That pile of items over there... Mind checking out what we even have there and assign starting bids?

A Word from our Sponsor ♥

DiplomaTea is offering a couple of special offers on this special day, all proceeds will be donated! Extra large mug of cinnamon cocoa you can share with a special person to warm up your bodies and hearts. You can also drink it yourself if you want to, nobody will judge you and certainly not Everett. However, even if you came here by yourself... Are you sure you can finish it by yourself? How about splitting the cocoa with someone who also came alone? That's the spirit of the day!

For those interested in a drink that can provide more thrill than simple cocoa, Everett is offering a tea blend called Ardric's Warmth. In his own words, it tastes like a live firecracker and has enough caffeine to raise the dead. And yet, this blend seems to have its dedicated fans in Aefenglom, especially among Dragons. Dare to try it? Or maybe someone tricked you into drinking some?

Inkchanted Corner ♥

Caster Cú Chulainn is doing a promotion on behalf of his and Waver's tattoo shop, Inkchanted. Still undecided if you would like to visit their place? Unsure about a permanent tattoo? You can try it out here and help the cause! For a low fee you can have Caster draw a small, enchanted painting on your skin. It can make you give off a charming aura, perfect if you are still looking for someone to spend the evening with or trying to grab the attention of that particular person. Or maybe you are celebrating self love and just want a spell that will allow you to eat a lot of sweets without consequences tonight? Perfect! Another idea? Be sure to communicate it well, you would not want to end up with an enchanted painting that gives a different effect you originally wanted... though even if you do, the magic will only work for a few hours. You can wait that long, can you?

Magic Show ♥

Trucy Wright, one of the recent arrivals to Aefenglom is on stage and about to perform her splendid magic show! Huh, that's nothing special in Aefenglom, you might think. Magic is an everyday thing for every Witch after all. However, this young lady here is not a Witch, so how does she do it? With totally real magic, of course! Get your seats and pay close attention to everything she does, but you are not very likely to notice anything - this girl is a professional, after all. In using real magic, of course! Or maybe you have similar skills? You are welcome to join her on stage and perform your own well-practiced trick. If it's not as well-practiced as you thought... well, at least you made the audience laugh? In need of a charming assistant? Just pick someone more or less willing from the audience!

III. Cleanup ♥

Tired after a busy day? Congratulate yourself on a job well done, we managed to collect a nice sum that will certainly help a lot! But before you can rest in your bed, there's more to be done. Taking off decorations, removing the confetti enchantments, washing the dishes, collecting the trash and cleaning the whole place. We cannot leave Everett alone with this mess after he was so nice to allow the usage of DiplomaTea for today's event, can we? You can stay and help, can you? Maybe there are some leftowers from the bake sale to sweeten the deal?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Hmm.

[By this point, that sneer's blown over to be replaced with a neutral smile, his eye locked with Emet-Selch's. He mulls it over. Imagines it must be mortals with some special talent for perceiving the imperceptible. This must be specifically the "Ascians" who don't receive a warm welcome, as he recalls. Mettaton sees why that might be, easily, and he smirks.]

Yes. People who can see the invisible are probably wary of what they find... It scares people. Especially as an Ascian, I imagine. Since you portend disaster?

[He remembers the noise of approval he received from before when he laced his fingers into his hair, so he repeats the gesture, moving his fingers into the dark locks at the back of his head. If his intent was to encourage, Mettaton will surely read it as louder and clearer than intended since he's already wanting to begin with. The robot leans forward and presses his nose into the side of his neck, close to Emet-Selch's ear. It really is a blessing, that they're both absurdly tall. He's growing more amorous again, nothing done being enough of a fix to last him for long. (Really, continuing to keep close quarter with Emet-Selch is dangerous for his self-control right now... It's ridiculous.)

Being so close to his face like this, Mettaton's volume adjusts, his voice low.]

But. I could touch objects, if I thought about it. It was strictly a limitation against other living things... I'd pass right through you right now, gorgeous. How awful. Even thinking about it disappoints me... immensely.

Well... we are at the center of every world-wrecking Calamity. For those that know of us... some caution is perhaps expected.

[His voice is lower than such information warrants, which probably had something to do with Mettaton's face pressed to his neck, the hand to his hair. It was... not bad, this, more intriguing than he would have expected, Mettaton's presence, even his voice both strangely more pleasant the closer he was pressed. Emet-Selch would've assumed the opposite to be true.

Arm slipping to tighten around him in turn, his lips brush along the length of the other man's neck. Without moving from it, he murmurs an answer against it.]

But I imagine that would be quite... frustrating. How fortunate that you can avoid such circumstance.

[Was this the manipulation of a Bond making such nearness tolerable, even somewhat desired? If so, Emet-Selch was- surprisingly fine with that. It wouldn't be the first time. His adoration for Zodiark wasn't necessarily by choice; an encouragement of closeness from a Bond was minor by comparison. And, well, as detached and cold as he wanted to seem, the Ascian was driven entirely by impulse and emotion; mixed with a lack of self-examination, he didn't always make the best decisions.]

[He's surprised a little at the gratitude, the small touch that went with it. His tone, when he answers, is light enough though.]

It's fine. Though a few more words now and then wouldn't go amiss.

[How often was anyone grateful to an Ascian for anything?]

[Mettaton bites his lip at the mere sensation of it all, slight as it is. He could be saying anything right now and it would elicit the same response, but it's a cocktail of feeling, undeniably powerful. It's the contact, his closeness, his voice, and the sensation he can feel. Much earlier, he'd regretted that he could feel at his neck at all when the Rathmores found fascination with it, but he decides that he'd live through that again if not to be rewarded with this. Sensation is, after all, entirely welcome, and the pleasurable makes up for the unwanted.

He shifts his weight not by any necessity, but to expend some of the pent up energy in his body; as he settles again, he's sure to press more urgently against Emet-Selch. He fancies the way they must look to an observer in the haunts of his mind, but that's about all he'll spare toward that: he's sincerely too enraptured to decide anything about what he's doing needs some dramatic alteration.]

Frustrating... But. I never truly knew, what fortune I was... missing out on.

[His voice is carried on a sigh, which is about the only way a sigh is ever authentic coming from him. He settles closer to Emet-Selch as he feels his grip about his waist tighten. The Puca places a kiss against his neck and moves up to his jaw to do the same, exposing more of his own neck in the process. His fingers curl affectionately in his hair. Even if he knows that a part of him will be perplexed/amused by this later, Mettaton's true to himself: the thrill of this and the odd intimacy he's found with the Ascian are enough of a reason to find this so delightful. There's nobody in the universe who has gained this kind of knowledge about him this quickly, and that's both terrifying and comforting.

...He'd love to know that there was any parallel going on between himself and Emet-Selch's god, even if it's about compulsion. He'd be flattered, and it'd be terrible.]

Hey, people get creative when beating each other up for sport gets less socially acceptable. [Momo shrugs, his tone casual as ever, because it's not like beating each other up for sport ever entirely went out of fashion. But people also found some alternate ways to vent that kind of energy.

He leans over to look at the sketch and immediately nods enthusiastically, because it's definitely more what he had in mind. Delicate as he acts on stage at times, he doesn't exactly suit delicate weapons.] Yeah, that's good. Or am I supposed to say it looks a little sketchy?

[He winks cheerfully in an effort to uplift what is, at its heart, a truly terrible pun.]

[ Sshhh, she's going to violently avoid kissing anyone forever regardless.. ]

It's definitely good. [ At least there's no hesitation in answering that. Momiji's emotions and the general way he feels across their bond isn't nearly as embarrassing as the idea of kissing or anything love-related is. ] If anything, I'm kind of glad for it! I feel like I used to feel energetic way more often back home than here.

[ Maybe since you waste all your energy on these dumb needless freakouts, Asahi! ]

But you're kind of giving me that feeling back now.

[ With the way Mira talks about those two, Asahi can't help but wonder if there's some romance involved in these bonds.. But even she - as tactless and rude as she can sometimes be with her brain-to-mouth filter kicking in a little too late - knows that's probably kind of awkward to ask.

So instead she slowly nods. ]

That makes sense. People are different, so they'd feel different too. [ She can't imagine anyone else she'd bond with to feel the way Momiji does, after all, the feelings she gets from that end are so uniquely like him. ] But can't it be a lot at once if you have two? You know, since you'd be able to feel both of them. Maybe even at the same time sometimes?

[It's more a breath than a hum, but it's approving in either case, at the combination of touches. Tilting his head up a little, he mirrors the gesture, pressing lips to the line of the robot's jaw, and drifting upward to the corner of his mouth.]

How much of this is new...?

[Even with as intense as Mettaton generally was, in his way, this seemed more than that, or different. But if he'd only been able to touch objects as a ghost, had his metallic forms bypassed that difficulty, yet not included much in the way of sensation? To go from nothing to... something, if not everything, must be an experience, he imagined.

Not that he was exactly unmoved himself; if not quite matching that urgency, he certainly did nothing to discourage it either. There was an uptick in his pulse that he couldn't deny, and a degree of entirely pleasant warmth to match it. His other hand moves up, fingertips dragging along Mettaton's upper back, to scrape upwards along the back of his neck.

Perhaps a sharing of troubling backgrounds did encourage a degree of intimacy. Not even all those from his own star knew anything of the Ascian's history, and of those not from his world, only one other knew much of it. And that had been over the course of months, ideal vagaries giving way to more unfortunate truths. But he'd told much of his past on his third meeting with the puca. This was only their fourth; the trajectory here should probably alarm someone.

...They moved fast, it seemed.

And who knows, bizarre comparisons to Zodiark might eventually come up; Bonding and tempering did have their parallels....]

I did! I'm glad to see you're safe.

[ As for the decoration, he's happy to take it, reach up, and affix it to the point she was trying to reach.

As for her struggles, well... ]

You can't help your height - but maybe a ladder would be safer than trying to balance on a chair...?

All the more reason to be off you feet, my lad. [Everett's thoughts, exactly, though he's happy to push a little further with his flirtation. Just the spirit of the event, isn't it?]

If you're so inclined to take a seat, I could offer my lap. Though, perhaps I should charge extra.

Oh, they'd probably like that! It sounds very poetic. What do you mean by that, beyond love and hate?

[Everett will bite, he's a curious sort, please explain!]

[At first, he barely seems to acknowledge that he's been asked a question, drunk as he is on sensation. For everything Emet-Selch does, Mettaton appreciates it then demands something more, as in the case of moving so close to his lips. He responds by stealing up an eager kiss, this one not as long as his first, but still just as charged. Though, his tongue flicks out to test Emet-Selch's lower lip before he pulls back, just in time to shudder at the harsher sensation of the Ascian's fingertips against his upper back. He's barely able to hold back a noise of pleasure; he reflexively bows his head forward, as though trying to give his fingers yet more area to wander as he smiles. In doing so, he maintains closeness with Emet-Selch's face.

Finding himself at this point at all required a pure emotional connection with his body, and that happened only during his grand finale. Sensation finally happened, then, though he was stricken only once as his introduction to sensation. He meets Emet-Selch's eye with his, though his gaze is unfocused, its sharpness turned wanting.]

All of it.

[His hand idly travels down to Emet-Selch's neck, having warmed significantly from all of this direct contact. His other hand remains fisted in his clothes.]

The first time I felt. Much of anything... was the same day I showed up here. But this...

[He couldn't get close enough, he thinks. The longer he stays in Geardagas, the more he feels; and the more the month wanes on, the less it's framed by constant pain. He'd take pain over nothing, but this is divine. He's decided he prefers this significantly, though there's hardly a contest.]

[Don't ask about the intense bond, Asahi. Mettaton has already mentioned the L Word and it made Mira have Thoughts.]

Only if you don't know how to block it sometimes just so it doesn't overwhelm you and your Bondmates. Or have it focus on one person.

[Again, she has tried this with Emet and some of their activities. Honestly, what would Irhya think if she felt that? Or if she had heard it?]

No. You're getting something.

[It didn't feel right not giving something back. Not when the girl had thought about her enough to make enough for her. ]

You might have to show me somewhen. There are so many ingredients that I've not heard of here.

Edited 2020-02-23 04:50 (UTC)

[There's usually something on Red Wine's mind, and he's usually better at hiding it... but lately, there's been a lot. She isn't wrong in her evaluation.

He glances at her when she offers, his eyebrows briefly lifting before his expression settles into one of mildly bemused curiosity.]

I'm not in the habit of divulging my problems to strangers. [Red Wine replies, though quite kindly. He isn't generally in the habit of revealing his inner thoughts even to those who know him best...]

But thank you for the offer. It's very thoughtful.

Tomorrow night, maybe... [he echoes, before clearing his throat] I mean. Yes, certainly. That would do.

[as for the time being, he puffs through his nose, a bit wry]

There can be some thrill to making a show of one's affections, but it's never been my manner of thrill. The Springtide enjoy their discretion. [despite these words, he reaches for Myr's hand and hooks his fingers beneath the younger man's knuckles, lifting them to his lips to kiss, before pressing his forehead. That same gesture of devotion as always, but the feeling runs deep and adoring through their bond]

Though I must admit, I'm very poor at concealing my affections for you.

Words and gestures go a long way hmm? Then I will be sure to give the proper thanks.

[First time for everything. Take that last line as you will Emet.]

Mm... But if I'm in your lap, you get out of kissing my ankles.

[ You can't exactly reach both! Not without straining the recovering joints or getting in a very awkward position. So yeah, definitely play up the flirtation for a bit. He doesn't mind doing a bunch of things to be in the spirit. ]

Plus, I did already add extra to that. So if that's what you need for motivation...

[When the kiss came, it was not unexpected, but no less for it. And it's without hesitation that Emet-Selch presses into it for as long as it lasts, even making a slightly annoyed sound when it ends sooner than he would have preferred. But the touch of tongue distracts him, as does the response he'd elicited from the scratch of his fingers. It was a bit gratifying, for some reason, to watch him like this.

Much like he'd been surprised that Mettaton hadn't formed a Bond before, Emet-Selch was surprised to find that he seemingly hadn't experimented with sensation like this before either. Though with what bit more he knew of him now... it was perhaps not entirely unusual, after all.

...Ah, right, words.]

Then I suppose there's much to catch up on.

[And he wasn't unamenable, for reasons Emet-Selch didn't care much to examine. Mettaton was interesting, and the touch of his hands were nice, especially once warmed; there were worse situations to be in.

However, they were still in public, and there were limits, even for an Ascian. It doesn't keep him from closing that small distance between their mouths once more, this time with his own tongue flicking out, to brush along the other man's lips. And slip between them, if permitted to. The hand at the back of the robot's neck drags itself up to bury itself roughly in his hair instead, as though discouraging any attempt to pull away from him.]

I'm not here to draw out moral guidelines for you. [Red Wine replies blithely, with a small shrug of one shoulder.]

Do you think it would be acceptable to not finish it?

The proper thanks, hm...?

[And how's he supposed to interpret that, Mira?]

I suppose it's some incentive to maintain my current good behavior.

[He hasn't caused even a single Calamity.]

I mean, I don't even know what it is so how can I judge properly?

I'm not out there hurting anybody. In fact, it doesn't even involve me antagonizing anyone either.

[ Take the win. ]

[That depends if your mind has been in the gutter or not. Besides, all he has probably done is annoy people and mostly ignore for other pursuits like sleep.]

You've been nothing but.

[A sigh escapes her lips.]

Just be careful, ok? Can't say to obey the rules since I technically break them too.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 33 of 75

VALENTINES CHARITY - Feoveuer 14th

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject