VALENTINES CHARITY - Feoveuer 14th

[thejoyrider]

♥ 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?

Comments

[twilightskey]

[They definitely help to provide more clues to Roxas's emotions, such as how they tilt to the side in confusion at Ienzo's words.]

But why do they get tangled in the first place?

[extirpator]

Alex...

[ a brow quirks up. ]

Fine. One more.

[sing_for_me]

You're close!

[ This might be the most encouraging Alex has been in this whole challenge, because while this was for charity, a part of her just didn't like to lose. But with Caren...well, she couldn't help that she wants her to succeed. ]

There's just ooone more ingredient that you need to guess.

[sing_for_me]

That's true but, aah, sorry, it's actually rum.

[ She gives a slightly apologetic smile, but she doesn't rub it in either. Or at least tries not to. ]

But I do appreciate you playing along anyway. And you did try!

[ Might she be treating him a little younger than he? Maybe. ]

You could try again if you'd like?

[ Maybe he'll have better luck, maybe she just wants the thrill of chance again. ]

[truescholar]

I wish I could answer you with certainty but, I don't have a clear understanding of why myself... it defies reasoning.

[ There was no logic to it! To how strings or the thin wires associated with the tech back home could become jumbled so quickly. It was so very, very, vexing.]

[auftauen]

((It's totally fine! The end of February was a huge joke for me irl too so I got way behind myself. I'm chill with backtagging!))

If anything, Crymaria herself is the one accustomed to being stared at. People fear Valkyria, envy and tremble before their power. And she's been let out of her cage so recently.

"What do you mean by that?" Crymaria grows a little anxious, unsure if the question is an accusation or some mocking statement about keeping her company. "I've never spoken to you before, so how could I say that?" She tries to defend herself by talking around it. "But that cocoa is poured to be shared, isn't it...? It's a difficult event to attend without company."

At the very least, wallflowers tend to attract wallflowers. Had her gaze not been drawn in the wrong direction, she might have been able to simply sit in silence, pretending she didn't crave company while persistently drawn to Morrigan's, not even understanding the source. She leans forward, the chair she's perched on shifting forward; she doesn't seem aware of that movement.

"Is that the energy you were going for? Charming?"

[showsnopiety]

[Maybe Alex is so encouraging because she saw how vulnerable Caren could be...?

Who knows. It also helps how cute and pure Caren can look, with her face screwed up and her tail swishing in concentration.]

...Basil?

[wordsinthesoul]

…Because then, you'd be one again. And… able to choose whatever you wished?

[He waits patiently, starting on getting the water going for washing up. He offers Vanitas a smile when Vanitas says that.]

Good. I'm glad to hear that.

[wordsinthesoul]

That is fortunate. If you do find yourself in need, feel free to ask, though.

[They're closed at the moment- green, as opposed to the red feathers on his back- but they look fit enough for flight. Thancred grimaces, giving something of a shrug.]. I've seen them do that, but no- I had the fortune of them growing to full size over the course of a few weeks. [Which was its own kind of pain and a half.]

[integrous]

[ The apology seems to catch her off guard. Asahi's eyes grow a little wider, and she quickly shakes her head - although she at least doesn't seem flustered anymore like earlier. ]

No, it's fine! We kind of brought it up together, right? [ No matter how quick she may be to point fingers in situations, this isn't nearly serious enough to do so. ] Besides, I think I actually felt more comfortable talking like this than I would have out there with all those people offering to kiss me.

[ She visibly shudders at the very thought. ]

So I should be thanking you instead for comforting me. You're a good guy.

[plasticasshole]

[But Connor has so much faith in you, Allura!]

You could try to draw me.

[He's closer, and a subject that will actually sit still.]

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ Some were bound to be destroyed, just for the way faun instincts can go. ]

They don't really need scores. It's just that after the Trevor thing, I ended up really curious.

[overworker]

[While Towa's almost completely certain that it's nothing but teasing, the fact that she has to even think about it is a lot for her brain on such short notice.

Enough to distract her those few moments until the forehead kiss.]

Jeez... I really should know better than to fall for this kind of thing.

[overworker]

Really?

[It makes her happy to know that other worlds have similar organizations out there helping people. On top of that, Red Wine seems a bit more relaxed. So maybe it is helping a little bit.]

Yes, of course. Because of the danger involved in certain requests, we do give recruits a bit of a test so we can see their skill levels but it's open to everyone who's interested in getting involved. If you're interested, we'd be happy to have you.

[overworker]

If I have the time, cakes. But if I'm busy and want to do something quick, cookies are really are the best.

[The flexibility of the working woman.]

[quintessent]

[Her eyebrows lift, then a small smile pulls at her lips when Scathatch voices her preference for what Allura calls her. She’s not sure what it means, in terms of familiarity, but it certainly feels a little more friendly than Shadow or Lancer.]

It’s a pleasure to meet you, properly, Scathatch. Mine is Princess Allura but – [She smiles,] Titles don’t mean very much here.

[darkcharge]

That's right.

[ Because again, nothing else mattered. For now though, that can be put on the back burner. Vanitas just stands there. Waiting.]

Why are you glad?

[nishiki]

Hm. Food?

[ he looks at steak, cocking his head to one side... then the other as to appraise him. then, he slowly takes another one hundred cunes out of the folds of his scarf. ]

If I pay more... can I get another kiss?

[foundfamilies]

Um.

[It's not something she's put a lot of thought into, because it seemed obvious.]

When parents love their children, they give them what they need because they're their children, right? So even if they act a little spoiled, they'll still help them. But when it's someone you don't know who offers to help you, that's more conditional, right? There's more of a give and take.

[incinerating]

[Sadly, it will hit him slowly, as do most things with Emil.

When Eren says he's considered joining the Wilders, Emil brightens visibly and leans in a little, his elbow on the edge of the table.]

Oh? What stopped you?

[He's genuinely curious, not just to learn what the cons of joining the Wilders might be, but because he's interested in what specifically stopped Eren. That would be something probably important to him, and learning the things that are important to people is a good way of making friends, right?]

Calcifer Jenkins, alright. And yeah, I'd like to do something to help out if I'm going to be here, especially since this place has a lot in common with where I come from and some of my expertise might come in handy. You know?

[lightblooming]

[ She shakes her head at that. It's rather sweet of her to offer, but... ]

No, thank you. If others can enjoy it, that's more than enough payback for making them in the first place.

[ It looks like Allura's taking the time to admire them, which really is a compliment in itself. ]

[bergamotrose]

Goodness, Sir. Never!

[Please. Lorenz knew he was young and inexperienced in the fine art of customer service, but he knew a good bit of the practical matters of management and basic sanitation.]

We have merely been here aiding the cause. Causing any damage would detract from that goal.

[sneaksweet]

Depends on the people involved. Like if a kid gets lost and they're askin' for help, I'm gonna help them.

[Not that most kids would ask him for help. His resting scowl is intimating to people his age, it's worse for younger children.]

I can't resist making stupid drawings

[quintessent]

[Allura nods, with pencil and paper in hand and sits back a little bit to get the whole image of him. What starts with an intense look of concentration quickly shifts to one of distress as she draws, starting too low on the page with his head and having to cram the rest of his body into the lower half of the page. She's trying.

Finally,]

This is ridiculous...

[She sets the paper down in her lap, her beautiful work of art now filling the page.]

I told you I could not draw.

[scatmaam]

Simply asking is no reason for me to tell you. [ Another chuckle. ]

I'll see how far you've come when I've tested my spear against you properly. Then we'll discuss it.