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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[As Juza’s fellow anxiety haver, Leslie of course is worried that the disgruntled expression is about her and wonders if maybe he didn’t like that she responded to him expressing that he’s glad she is safe by protesting her danger state. Set reminder to not do that again.

But, uh, hmm. A different protest and a question end up slamming into each other in her head.]

You don’t have to get me something — what’s White Day?

[Ah, a fellow anxious child. He absolutely does not recommend it. 0/10, would not recommend anxiety to a friend or a sibling.]

It's when boys return gifts to the girls who gave them chocolate on Valentine's. But it's a Japanese thing, so not everybody here'll do it.

[I bet anxiety pays off Yelp to delete all their bad reviews.

In the actual (fictional) world, Leslie initially looks like this has cleared things up for her -- Japanese must be in some way related to a group of people who invented Valentine's Day (close). But then she returns to confused.]

Um, why is it for boys, and only for the ones they get from girls? Am I not supposed to do something like that if someone who is [deep breath and try to pronounce] Japunese [close] gives me a present, since I'm a girl?

[He could take Yelp 1-1. If it were a person. Probably. Pay for those terrible business practices.

Huh. Actually, he's never really thought about it?]

I dunno. That's just how it is at home. [The answer is probably capitalism, but does this teenager think about it that often?] I guess if somebody gives you a gift today, and you give them a muffin, that's basically the same thing? It's just a lot faster than waiting a month.

[Leslie and Juza team up vs the board of director. Coming soon to a theatre near you.]

So it's a tradition. That makes more sense. [There's a lot of those based around gender and none of them make sense.] You don't have to get me anything for White Day. I had fun, learning how to make muffins. But if you want to because of your traditions, you can.

[Everyone would tremble at Leslie's scolding. She's just that cute. End capitalism by sending children after the CEOs.]

's fine. I don't usually get to, so it'll be nice.

[Sometimes he overthinks everything, and sometimes he just doesn't think at all.]

[Vive la leslielucion.]

Oh, so you also were wanting to participate in the celebrations! I can understand that very well.

[Although, hmm. He doesn't look to be quite old enough to live on his own by her society's standards. She wonders if he's been able to get himself settled in here yet. She doesn't want to be taking a gift from someone struggling to scrape together money for food or anything like that.]

Have you been...doing okay in Aefenglom? You know, with getting settled in somewhere, and the moon, and everything?

[A nod. Yep. It would've been nice to be with the company for it, but he was also pretty sure it was around fall back home.]

It's okay. I got a place with Soren. [Belatedly he realizes that Leslie has probably not run into the same people he has. Maybe he should describe his mansionmate.] Uh... a knight guy. Carries around a sword 'nd everything.

[He flexes his hand, nails already transformed into sturdy, bearlike claws.] It'll... probably get more drastic next moon.

[It turns out that he didn't need to worry about this one.]

Oh, you know Sir Soren, too? Did he end up getting a horse like he said he might? [Does the frat house even have space for a horse? It might have just been a passing thought from the knight.

As for the bear claws, Leslie blinks a little, not having noticed it initially, but then she raises her fists as she tries to sound encouraging.] Don't worry about the moon transformations! It'll be fine. The way you looked in the dream was very cute!

Yeah, we met during the dream thing. ... I didn't see any horses, but those probably cost a lot. [Said in a tone that means Juza has no idea the relative prices of any animal at all. Where's Muku, he's probably read a shoujo about getting transported into another world. (Maybe that's more of Taichi and Itaru's thing.)]

Ah... Thanks. [Not sure if that's the right response. But at least he doesn't look scarier to Leslie.]

[Leslie "Has Lived In Three Separate Rich Noble Households Counting Aefenglom" S. here looks like she hadn't considered the price problem.]

I guess they would be expensive. And neither of you have been here long. That might be more of a long-term goal of his.

[Wait what?]

You haven't been here long either, right?

Yes, I met both of you in the same dream —

[It takes Leslie a moment to realize why he asked that.]

Oh, because I said neither of you instead of none of us? I’m living with Lady Edelgard while I am here, and she has been here for long enough to have some savings in cunes, but if you haven’t been fortunate enough to be looked after like that, you have to first make sure to make enough money to support yourselves.

[A pause and then a hurried correction.]

Not that I am not working as well. I don’t want to only be a drain on the house’s finances. But I didn’t have to worry if I didn’t manage to find a job. ...And I’m not looking to buy a horse.

[And now he's even more confused because he's clearly talking to a child. Leslie is like... 10 maybe? He's not good at ages.]

's fine, we'll figure it out. [Juza's may be about to take on a Whole Bunch of part time jobs, is what that means.]

You're pretty young. Most people don't start gettin' jobs until they're around 16 or 17.

[She can’t read his mind to know he’s making the common age mistake and he didn’t use the word “child,” so she accepts “pretty young.”]

Is that how it usually works?

[The question is a little distracted and mostly to herself. She has zero clue what is normal when it comes to jobs.]

It’s fine. I can handle it. I don’t have anything else I can offer in return other than that, at least until I learn how to use this world’s magic. Lady Edelgard didn’t ask for anything when she offered to let me stay, but it doesn’t feel right if I don’t give something in return. It’s not like we’re family, after all.

Yeah. I didn't get my first job 'til this year back home. [Ah, he misses the Japanese candy factory. Sometimes they let him take something home.]

Huh. I try to take care of my troupe mates [minus one] and we're not family. Maybe she wants to help you out? Wouldn't hurt to ask her about it.

[Leslie straightens up a little more. She's doing something that most people don't do until they're several years older than her! Even if it's only some part-time work, maybe she's doing something that she can take a little pride in?

But uh oh, she doesn't want to cause a misunderstanding. She raises her hands in a "stop" gesture.]

I didn't mean to suggest that Lady Edelgard doesn't want to help me out! She's given me a lot of things out of the goodness of her heart, but I shouldn't take something like that for granted, right? So I want to do what I can.

[He's mostly like... did child labor laws exist in the Victorian era? In... He doesn't think this is Japan, so he's not actually sure which part of history he should be trying to compare it to.]

I mean... I haven't met her personally so I can't speak for her. But if my brother was here I wouldn't want him to feel indebted to me. Maybe it's different with family?

[They don't here. at least! Careful about wandering down by the harbour district's work orphanages if you want to keep your faith in humanity.]

Shouldn't it be different?

[She doesn't actually know. As far as she's aware, she's never had a real family.]

[Please let him keep that.]

Why would it?

[Mankai company is like his second family, even if he does constantly end up fighting with his roommate. That's Sakyo's fault for rooming them together.]

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.

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.]

[Leslie doesn't get why people would be scared of this guy, but also she had no idea why she would have been scared of a man yelling in her face, so a scowl is not high on her scary list.]

Helping a lost child find their and letting a stranger stay in your home indefinitely are very different kinds of things. One is a much bigger investment of your time and resources.

[Leslie is braver than most high schoolers. It's the trauma.

If Juza was from the middle of Winter, he'd know that they definitely just take in strays that happen to show up in front of their dorms. Since he doesn't he just nods.]

I guess. But it's not like kids without homes is a good thing. I'm glad somebody's lookin' after you.

[She'd thrash them all.

His theatre also takes in corporate saboteurs, though.]

I am, too. I'm really grateful that I didn't have to start off on my own here.

VALENTINES CHARITY - Feoveuer 14th

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