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

[scatmaam]

I assure you, if my intuition told me you were not worth the effort, we'd not have spoken any more words. [ Another chuckle, a small sigh. ]

Whether it's with my spear or my lips, I'll know you better, either way.

jesus christ

[plasticasshole]

[Connor tips his head at it, and to his credit he doesn’t laugh. He just frowns at it a little. There has to be something he can compliment—]

I can tell it’s me.

[Truly the highest of praise. He wonders if his nose really is that big.]

I think you’re just a little out of practice, that’s all.

[showsnopiety]

[It's just a little nipping at each other and they're both having a good time. It's fine, it's fine.]

Clearly I need to look harder.

[Because banter buddies and sarcasm buds is absolutely delightful.]

But you're nearly there. Keep it up, and you may become acceptable to my standards.

No promises.

[oathkeeper]

[Sora smiles a bit with a quick nod.]

Yeah, not really. I've been to a new world or two in the past.

[He's just never been this stuck before.]

[twilightskey]

That's really weird. I mean, if no one touches them...

[It really does defy logic, doesn't it??]

[bergamotrose]

Speaking of...

Why did you come this way? You were clearly uncomfortable, which was why I helped you.

[A sigh. If someone had put Asahi up to this, they were going to get a Talking To.]

You're also a good person, Asahi. I was concerned to see you so troubled.

[showsnopiety]

[It's really just teasing because it's Caren. Poor Towa. Caren chuckled.]

It's been awhile since you've seen me. You've lost some of your...tolerance, so to speak.

[Like with spices. She'll take that opportunity to kiss Towa on the mouth.]

[scatmaam]

Even so, I have no intention of disrespecting you, my lady. [ A small dip of her head, as if in bowing. ]

I hope you enjoy that cupcake.

[whomthebelltolls]

That sounds a bit like a threat. [Not necessarily one that's dangerous, so it's not like Maria is really gearing up for a fight perse.] I wonder if your logic won't tell your intuition that it may be more time and effort than it's worth.

[Maria has the self-awareness enough to know that she's... difficult, at best, to get to know. It's a slow process, that can't really be rushed. But... Scathach hasn't ruined the chance or anything, so she'll keep playing along.]

[truescholar]

I'll be sure to keep you and mind [ Said with a light smile. ] And that sounds like a small mercy, at least.

[truescholar]

Truly...[ Ienzo's wearing a particularly serious face right now, the kind he wears when he hasn't found the answer to a problem that should logically be straightforward. ]

...

[usurpers]

[ you need to eat hiccup look at your sticks. ]

Judar. [ but maybe . . . he has left and eren doesn’t even know!!! ] I don’t know about now, but he mentioned it a while back.

[wordsinthesoul]

[He'll hand Vanitas one of the washed dishes to be dried then, raising his eyebrows at the questions.]

You enjoyed yourself. Why shouldn't I be glad of that?

[wordsinthesoul]

Well, perhaps we'll meet again on another occasion, too. [He shrugs.]. It was difficult in a different way, I think.

[darkcharge]

Because it doesn't really effect your day?

[ And he'll dry them, of course. Pfft. What would the old man think to see him like this now. ]

[battlebound]

That's how it works.

[ He's not going to object to raising more money from the same person and leans forward, pecking Kaden on the mouth, quickly and chastely. ]

[battlebound]

[ That seems to be a common sentiment here. People not having these features in the first place. ] They only occur in Food Souls. [ Himself, Yogurt, Milk, Roast Lamb... ]

Alright. Be careful.

[ Though he never uses them as a weapon, even now, Steak takes great care to keep his horns sharp and deadly looking. ]

[incinerating]

[Emil blinks at her when she directly says she can afford one pastry, and then laughs.]

I already paid for them, I'm offering to give you one for free.

[A little smile, and he glances around.]

I could probably even request a break to eat it with you. And, um, I have several types. Some cupcakes and a cinnamon roll, and I think something with coconut? They called it coconut, yes.

[incinerating]

[Unfortunately, Emil is not subtle about pretty much anything, though he can tell he's upsetting Elliot, and feels bad about it. It's just that he's not good at hiding things.]

Oh, thanks. Seriously. I wasn't here for whatever happened but I wanted to help anyway.

[A pause, and then he blinks.]

Bad nerves? Ugh, I get that. I get so nervous meeting new people sometimes. I don't bite though, if that helps any?

[incinerating]

[It's been a while since anyone has kissed Emil, and that's why he's reacting the way he is. Or at least that's what he tells himself. He can't quite help the flush and heat to his cheeks, the way he can't quite make eye contact with Kaden, or the little thrill he gets when Kaden bumps their foreheads together in what seems to be an affectionate gesture. How long has it been since anyone was affectionate with him? He can't remember.]

No...I wouldn't. It's just a joke...I was starting to feel like there was something wrong and repellent about me that made me unkissable, that's all. And...oh. Oh, thank you.

[The compliment is a little surprising, and he laughs softly, shaking his head.]

Well, I feel a lot better now. Hopefully that wasn't too awful for you.

[darkcharge]

So let me get this straight... You want to test me. At spear point.

[ Which he doesn't actually have any issues with. ]

:'D

[quintessent]

[His discretion is appreciated, but the embarrassed blush doesn’t fade from her face.]

I tried very hard.

[Which doesn’t really make it any better. She hands the paper and pencil back to Connor.]

Art isn’t a… standard discipline for Altean royalty.

[Clearly.]

[integrous]

Ah, well..

[ It's hard to tell if she just feels awkward recalling why she came here to begin with, or if the compliment at the end is throwing her off, but she has to pause for a moment before slowly answering anyway. ]

Marie asked me to come to the festival.. I-I told her that I'm no good with this whole love business, but she said we could celebrate friendship too or something like that.. That probably sounds really dumb now I'm saying it out loud, huh.

[kuroi_taiyo]

No way I'd know the difference, so...

[ It was all stacked against him more than some others. Then again, that's how it goes with someone who doesn't like to lose, or be wrong. Which is why he ends up putting it through a new kind of twist. ]

Trying again would just you be stealing more from me. Though I guess I should've known I'd be getting cheated in some way, as you've done it before.

[overworker]

[And just like that, Caren goes in for the kill and Towa's completely caught off guard.]

Hey no fair!

[But after the surprise and initial fluster wears off, she giggles a little.]

Guess I can't keep my eyes off of you for too long.