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?

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[ with a flick of his tail, kaden laughs sheepishly. ]

I do, but... I don't know. You looked worried! If you're looking for someone, are they looking for you too?

[ he has his money in his hand already. ]

Paying for a kiss seems so weird.

[ doesn't stop him from the cunes in the box, though. ]

No.

[ Unless Red Wine is looking for him to laugh at him, in which case... yes. ]

It's for a good cause.

[ It's as neutral a statement as Steak can make about the whole thing, because he honestly just thinks kissing is kind of strange in and of itself. But he has a job to do, so when the coins are dropped in the box, he shifts from his seat and pecks the man on the lips, a quick, brief thing. ]

[ despite the kiss being quick, both of kaden's ears twitch as he leans back while sporting the tiniest of blushes. ]

It is! But mmm.

[ he keeps mum on the subject of a kiss' meaning, shaking his head to himself instead to try to clear the pink off his cheeks. ]

Thank you. It sounds weird that you'd be looking for someone and that the other person wouldn't want to see you... unless you're going to start a fight or something.

Hm? [ What's got this guy's tongue?

Well, it's quickly forgotten about in favour of the rest of the conversation. ]

He should be doing this instead of me.

[ Steak means that in the because he's better at it than me way, but it's easy to miss that when he says nothing else. ]

[ with a hum, the kitsune shrugs lightly. ]

Why? [ his next laugh is gentle. ] I thought you did okay. I don't kiss a lot of people.

[ and then he looks back at steak. ]

He probably doesn't have ears that are as cute as yours.

[ Steak clearly doesn't either. It's... awkward, and weird, and not the kind of work he usually gets hired to do. ]

E-excuse me? [ Said ears flick in response, flattening against his skull strangely. Ugh, he doesn't like these things. They're... weird. ]

You heard me! [ he can tell. ears don't react like that for no reason, and kaden would know. ] They look floppy, unlike my own or a wolfskin's.

[ and he raises one hand, one finger pointing up as he smiles knowingly. ]

And soft. I'm sure he's jealous of you.

[ They are floppy, and he's still unsettled by the way they move. His old, human-shaped ears were just fine.

(And maybe he's just going crazy, but is that someone just within earshot laughing?) ]

And how long have you had yours?

[ Trying to change the subject ~~and suppress the twitch in his brow at that laughter he's almost sure he hears~~? Maybe. ]

[ he frowns, potentially catching what might be the laughter of someone who might or might not be watching the two of them talk, but it quickly fades when steak asks about his own wiggling listeners. ]

Oh, since I was born. I'm a kitsune! [ a beat, and then: ] Have you ever heard of us before?

[ kaden suppresses a growl in the back of his throat, though it wouldn't be aimed at steak. not at all. ]

Edited 2020-03-02 02:47 (UTC)

[ Kitsune...? Actually... ]

There are legends of such creatures in parts of Tierra. [ He thinks there may even be Food Souls who have such features, but he's yet to meet them. ]

[ he beams proudly... finally, a little bit of recognition! but that's not necessarily a good thing, so it's a somewhat tempered reaction. still positive, though. ]

Well, for what it's worth, I don't think I've ever seen anyone like you before!

[ with a wag of his tail, he leans forward. ]

[ Well, luckily, Steak isn't one to listen to myth and lore in too much depth. He is, however, one that stiffens as Kaden leans in, jaw tightening. ]

They call us Food Souls.

[ Though he's normally devoid of the tentacles and cow ears. ]

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?

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. ]

[ and this time he laughs, his smile muted but thoughtful as if he expected something different this time around. ]

Weird, your kiss doesn't taste like any food I recognize.

[ both of his ears twitch. ]

[ He could pay more for longer kisses, but that might border on prostitution. ]

Just because I'm a Food Soul?

[ Really? Is that supposed to be a thing? He's still modelled after humans, you know! ]

[ but if it's for a good cause? ]

I thought it made sense...

[ kaden looks away, face pink, the tips of his ears folding. ]

... I've never heard of a Food Soul before. Unless it means you're a very good cook.

[ It seems to make sense to a lot of humans, but humans are often very strange in Steak's experience. ]

It's a useful skill for us to have. Many Attendants want to run their own restaurants.

[ Not his, but he can cook better than some may expect. If nothing else, centuries of living has given him plenty of time to practice. ]

( ~~these pics (pecs???) are killing me~~

as the pink fades, kaden tilts his head slightly to one side. whatever an attendant is... it sounds important. )

I think most times I was assigned to the kitchen, I was able to cook rice without killing anyone.

( and serve tea, which is something that he just naturally felt good at? it didn't involve preparation, so! )

... is your Attendant here?

[ ~~They're very good pieces of art, yes.~~ ]

... He died many years ago.

[ The fact hasn't hurt for decades, but Steak does miss the presence of his Attendant from time to time. Misses how it meant a far simpler time, before he and Red Wine left the kingdom, bitter and jaded about humans. ]

( he doesn't sound particularly sad about it, but that's understandable. not everyone has the time (or desire) to grieve, because getting too attached to the past poorly affects the future.

still... )

Maybe you'll see him again someday, in another life.

( with a wiggle of his tail, kaden hums in thought. )

I'm Kaden. Thanks for kissing me, mister Food Soul.

[ Who knows? Steak's heard all sorts of things about how things go after you pass. If his Attendant returns to Tierra somehow, perhaps they'll meet again.

Or perhaps his Attendant will simply enjoy the next world with Madam. ]

Ah, yes. [ That. ] Enjoy the party.

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VALENTINES CHARITY - Feoveuer 14th

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