Little Ladies' Day! [OPEN]

[seemstressed]

Who: Tataru & EVERYONE
When: March 22nd, from 10:00AM to 2:00PM.
Where: Sylvain's Manor
What: It's Little Ladies' Day! Come celebrate!
Warnings: N/A

🌸Little Ladies' Day🌸

🌸Tea Time🌸

After all the fussing and effort put into decorating Sylvain's ballroom, Tataru and her "assistants" have transformed the area into one worthy of inviting princesses to high tea. Tables have been set up throughout the ballroom, flowers and other decorations adorning the tables and walls. Little Ladies are invited to sit where they please to be served while live music plays. When it comes to tasty treats and drinks (both alcoholic and not), there's a special menu to choose from, along with your standard high tea fair of scones, tea sandwiches, petit fours and of course, tea. Loyal Seneschals are at the beck and call of their Ladies, whether they're focused on one particular individual or a group.

Socializing is encouraged and if Ladies tire of sitting at the tables to snack and sip away at their tea, they're encouraged to relax and recline in the Tête-à-Tête sofas set up in another area of the room, either with another fellow Lady or a Seneschal who's willing to charm them or show off their listening skills. There is, of course, space free for those who wish to use the ballroom as it was intended to be - for dancing - and with the lively music filling the room why not take the opportunity to? It's all in good fun, after all.

🌸Lights! Camera! Action!🌸

Prompto finally has his camera working again and Tataru's decided it would be a great idea for him to participate as a photographer and get new clients for his photography business! One of the activities of Little Ladies' Day back in Eorzea is Ladies posing in front of backdrops that are set up around the city-states. To emulate this exciting experience, various backdrops have been set up outside in the yard for Little Ladies to have their photographs taken. The main attraction? A chocobo drawn carriage for that special princess aesthetic. Yeah...

There is also a dressing room area for Ladies to get dressed up or borrow a few donated outfits for the event (from local shops), if they were unable to get their own gear to wear, if they so wish to do so. The room itself that contains said outfits has been turned into a makeshift powder room with a mirror and vanity space for touch ups. Every Little Lady ought to look their best, after all.

🌸Adorable Adoption🌸

Hector has volunteered to bring a few well-behaved fuzzy friends along (cats and dogs) for Little Ladies to play with and pet. All the animals will be up for adoption, and would make good Familiars for Witches who might need one in their lives. His makeshift petting zoo is set up in a segregated area of the yard, to make sure no animals go missing. Everyone who is an animal lover is encouraged to play, pet and love on the animals that have been brought along. If you do wish to adopt one, you'll have to be up to Hector's standards however. They deserve to go to good homes, after all!

🌸Notes🌸

What does it mean to be a Loyal Seneschal or Little Lady?: The role of Seneschal is quite fluid; ultimately it hinges on making sure no Lady goes without a smile on their face during their special day. Whether that's through serving them, entertaining them, being a companion or maybe going home with them to help them do a few chores around their house...it's seriously up to you! Get creative! If you're a Little Lady all that means is that you're a woman and it's Your Day to be Appreciated. Own it. (And no, don't even think about trying to be a Seneschal if you're a Lady - Tataru will hunt you down.)
How will my character find out about the event?: If your character didn't see Tataru's post about it on the network for whatever reason, she's also been sticking flyers up around the city for it. Tataru's quite the busybody so if you need to come up with an excuse for your character/their business to get involved feel free to have them either have heard of it from local businesses that are participating in the festivities, the flyers or even Tataru herself if they have CR of some kind.
Plotting Post: If you wish to see what people have plotted thus far or reach out to others for CR the plotting post is here!
I want to play around with Little Ladies' Day after the tea event!: Go for it! Tataru's been working hard hustling local businesses and Mirrorbound alike to participate in the Eorzean tradition. Making a compelling case to incorporate it into Eostre's festivities, she's managed to arrange a few collaborations for the Ladies of Aefenglom to enjoy. Feel free to play around with local cafes or shops that may have special menus or deals on made in the spirit of the holiday. Also go wild when it comes to playing up your Little Lady and Loyal Seneschal roles. It's All Women Are Queens Day, after all.

Comments

[marmoron]

I didn't tell her anything!

[His voice rises along with the color in his cheeks.]

Why didn't you tell her we're not part of your harem?

[quintessent]

[Now she's sitting up proper, hands on her knees, no more lounging.]

Because she never mentioned that to me.

[Wait, she's catching up here,]

Is that explicitly what she said? That I have harem and that you're- [Her voice drops,] A concubine.

1/2

[marmoron]

[She says it quietly enough, but it doesn't stop Keith from wanting to clap his hand over her mouth when she utters the c-word. Instead, he groans audibly and shrinks lower into the couch like it might just be able to swallow him whole if he tries hard enough.]

More or less?!

[You know what, maybe this conversation was a giant mistake. It's hard enough to be dealing with his own feelings here, dealing with Allura's in tandem is definitely making this worse.]

2/2

[marmoron]

[Very abruptly, he sits up straight. He doesn't have to be embarrassed here, damn it. Emotions have an on/off switch if he wills it hard enough. That's how feelings work and right now nobody is going to talk him out of this conviction.]

Anyway.

[He clenches his fists, adopting what he hopes is a tone of complete nonchalance. Too bad the bond-thing kinda makes that a bit pointless.]

Anyway I already told her I'm not "your man." [Quotation marks audible.] So there's that.

[quintessent]

[Whether it's her own embarrassment or his she feels, it's really hard to tell. Her face heats up and she covers her cheeks with her hands, as if that can hide how warm her face feels. Stars, her harem. And what has Tataru been saying to the others?

It's only made worse by the phrasing, ”Your man”. Please don't say it like that Keith.]

I didn't realize. I didn't do anything to imply that you were... [She can't say it.]

I need to find Tataru and set this straight.

[marmoron]

Okay, You do that.

[He'll say this while pointedly not looking in Allura's direction.]

Just glad you didn't know and this wasn't because you actually want a harem.

[quintessent]

Of course I- [She sputters,] Why would you think that I want a harem? We have been living together for phoebes now, and it has never once crossed my mind!

[Wait, that sounds suspiciously like one of those "The lady doth protest too much" statements, which it's not. She's just flustered.] It's been generations since a member of Altean royalty has kept anything like that in the first place!

[marmoron]

Okay, Woah.

[/SQUINT.]

Your great grandparents had concubines??

[quintessent]

No!

[She is getting increasingly uncomfortable with this conversation, and she squirms in her seat.]

But my great, great, great, great, great grandmother did.

[marmoron]

Uh- [Pursing his lips real quick.] uh-huh.

[Oh what a wonderful feeling to not be embarrassed personally....]

You're totally not taking after her or anything. Got it.

[quintessent]

I'm not.

[Her voice hits a high note, loud enough that some of the nearby party-goers turn to gawk at them. She hunches her shoulders and lowers her voice.]

Now can we please stop talking about harems and concubines immediately?

[marmoron]

[Oh. Oh wow that's shrill. As the guests turn to look at them, Keith fights a losing battle to keep a grin off his face.]

Whatever you say, Princess.

[quintessent]

[She peeks up at him, her face still smushed between where her hands were pressed against her face. Eyes wide,]

You think this is funny!

[Keith wasn't as stoic as some would believe, but still, she sees him failing to keep a stern face at all of this.]

[marmoron]

Well ... yeah?

[Look. He's not the one with distant relatives with harems or the one that apparently comes across like he has harems to Tataru, ok. He's a happy pie right now.]

I mean, heh. After everything we've been through, this is the thing that makes you shrill like that? [And red. So so very red. But he isn't trying to murder her with observations.] It's pretty funny.

[quintessent]

[That seems to simmer her down a little, but there's a lot of embarrassment still brewing under the surface. She crosses her arms over her chest,]

We've been through countless battles and life-or-death situations. They're frightening, not embarrassing.

[Give her space battles any day over talking about harems, specifically in the context of her having one.]

And I'm not shrill.

[marmoron]

Not usually.

[Look, he's sorta conceding the point? That counts. right?]

But a lot of people heard that noise you made. I could ask the guy who was feeding you chocolates what he thought.

[quintessent]

[She sinks down in her seat, shoulders hunching up. At Keith's teasing she reaches out, to grab his sleeve, as if he was going to get up and do it.]

Don't you dare, Keith. [To her surprise, a giggle bubbles out in the middle of her threat and her eyes open wide. That wasn't her laughter.]

You made me do that.

[marmoron]

[Getting grabbed, getting threatened ... that's all to be expected. The giggle though??? Looking as visibly thrown off by this alien noise as Allura is, Keith peers at her like they've both entered the twilight zone.]

I didn't make you do anything...?

[By all counts that should absolutely be a statement of fact; he's innocent, dangit. But the uncertainty is there anyway, plain to hear.]

I never get to use this icon

[quintessent]

[She covers her mouth, hiding the traitorous smile there.]

Yes you did! [Ahem. Get it under control Allura.] I didn't know you were so tickled by - by thoughts of harems and concubines. I'm feeling your emotions Keith.

[She's certainly not the one laughing about this. Except it's starting to become genuinely funny, and her voice shakes around her words, trying to keep from laughing.] Is that what your embarrassment was about earlier?

that icon cracks me up every time

[marmoron]

[Has he ever made anyone laugh like this before??? It's honestly kind of nice if he ignores how they got here. Starting to smile himself because well.. she's happier now too, he relaxes for like... half a second.]

I'm not! [Don't you DARE turn this around on him, Allura?! But as much as he wants to sound indignant, it's muddled behind some residual laughter.] I was laughing because you were acting weird.

And I was embarrassed before because Tataru made it sound like we were messing around.

[quintessent]

[That unleashes another bout of the giggles and she picks up one of the pillows nearby to muffle her laughter into. Why is this so ridiculous? It's become a feedback loop and really she can't remember the last time she's laughed like this. All of the pressure that she carried around on her shoulders ever since she woke up on board the castle ship was releasing out into this one, ridiculous moment.]

You should know that I never mess around. [Different meaning of the word. Finally getting her laughter under control, she shoves the pillow into Keith's hands.] I'd thought you were just embarrassed to be here. [Ha. She bites her lip to keep it under control.] Where did you get that outfit anyway?

[marmoron]

[He blinks when she gives him the pillow. He doesn't understand why they're playing hot potato with this thing, but when it becomes obvious she has no idea what he meant it starts a new wave of snickering. No, he's not giggling. He would never giggle.]

Uh-huh. Just part of being a princess.

[But okok. Struggling to keep a straight face now, he clears his throat.]

I got it from Tataru. She told me I deserve to dress better.

[quintessent]

[She doesn't know why he's snickering, but she doesn't really know why she's laughing either. (And to be fair, she can make a few guesses as to the meaning of fooling around but now that she's keenly aware of their bond, she's making the wise decision not to think on that too much.)]

Really? I think you dress fine.

[Said idly and she reaches out to take a bit of the fabric of his jacket and rub it between her fingers. It is a fine garment.] But I think Tataru can't resist dressing someone up. [She gestures to herself,] I wasn't planning on wearing something half as gaudy.

1/2

[marmoron]

[Oh. After months of abuse from Lance about his fashion sense, that is absolutely not what he was expecting anyone to say about his clothes. He smiles a little sheepishly, glancing down at her hand.]


You really think so?

2/2

[marmoron]

[Then he catches himself and it's like his soul has left his body to stare at him. He doesn't care about anyone's opinions on his appearance, damn it. Why did he ask her that like her opinion matters? And what difference would it make if she answered one way or another?

It'd be easier if he could simply fold his arms and change the subject without Allura knowing any different, but he's embarrassed and the feeling is only worse because he can't actually keep that from her. But damn, if he's not going to try.]

I mean, whatever. You'd look fine in a trash bag anyway.

[....So there?????? What is the point he's trying to make here....]