rollfordiplomacy: dns (Default)
[Everett Vaughan] ([personal profile] rollfordiplomacy) wrote in [community profile] middaeg2019-12-01 09:49 am

DiplomaTea | Grand Opening! | Mingle Post

Who: Any and all!
When: December 1st.
Where: The Haven.
What: Grand Opening of a new, mirrorbound owned shop!
Warnings: None.


DiplomaTea, a Florist and Tea Shop, is located on a street corner in The Haven. Today is its Grand Opening, complete with festivities to mark the occasion. The shop has a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, though a gothic aesthetic permeates throughout. Skulls, thorns, and lace are in much of the decor.

Above the main entrance hangs a dyed elk skull, decorated with white carnations and tea leaves. Entering leads one to a tidy shop, flower arrangements filling every possible surface. The air within is warm and scented by whichever section one might be in. Even the smells filling the shop are well organized and complimentary.



The floor plan includes plenty of space to walk through and admire the floral displays. Double doors are locked open, leading out to a covered, outdoor porch. Many are sitting to enjoy a cup of tea. The whole shop is pleasantly heated, the porch space a middle ground between the warm interior and cold, rainy streets beyond. A small stage accommodates a single performer with a compact instrument. Live music is playing throughout the opening day. Inside the shop is a long bar to take orders for fresh brewed tea and to make sales.



I. Enchant me by the Mistletoe

Over the door frames and upon the tea tables are a peculiar little plant, wrapped in ribbon. Being near to these cause a certain reaction. It's not so much a compulsion as an idea. An idea to kiss or hold the person nearest to you. Whether platonic or romantically depends on your ideas of them.

If they are a perfect stranger, well, it's likely to fall romantic. The magic is funny like that, keen to fluster!

It is only an idea, lasting so long as one remains near to the mistletoe. Or... until the idea is so indulged. Guests are more than welcome to take the enchanted bundle along with them, the effects should last a couple days. The staff have more on hand to set out in replacement... and magically woven ribbons of their own, which block such ideas from forming in their own minds. They don't need such distractions! It's a busy enough day as it is!

II. Illusory Flowers

A Grand Opening special! Roses and lily flowers with peculiar properties. Everett grows all the flowers stocking the shop himself and his magic mixes with the witch he's bonded to, Sokie. Some of her illusion magic affected this batch, in fun and often times unpredictable ways.

These flowers are still closed, waiting for the right moment to bloom. They are being given away freely, a single flower at a time, both inside and out front of the shop. When they pass hands, the petals open to blossom, and a small illusion springs forth!

Never harmful, but always surprising. Sometimes the illusion is visual, sometimes with a sound or a smell to accompany. Rarely do the aspects seem well matched, fire cracker like eruptions may leave behind the smell of ocean water. Small, ghostly creatures often springing forth, as if born from the flower itself. There's a wide variety that can manifest, even Everett's not sure of all the possibilities.

No matter what it is, it fades from the senses within a minute. All that's left then is a lovely, if ordinary flower.

III. A Springtide Blessing

The shop has much to offer with flower arrangements, but the tea blends are the real centerpiece on display. Everett prides himself on his perfect flavor combinations, which he assures have as much significance to them as any flower. For the grand opening, there are three specialty blends. Blessings of the Springtide, he calls them. All are available for tastings and purchase.




a. Adelheid's Heart

A floral, sweet tea. This is served with lemon and fresh honey, pairing well with tea biscuits. Easy to drink, even for those without a fondness for tea. Refreshing and said to always uplift one's spirits.

b. Enki's Ambition

A sharp, minty tea. Though it is served warm, it leaves a strangely cold feeling when swallowed. Soothing, all the same, and very brisk. Any congestion of the nose or throat is sure to be remedied by a cup of this. The ideal tea when in need of focus and clarity.

c. Ardric's Warmth

This tea is an absolute kick in the teeth. It's harsh and bitter. There's a spice to it that builds on itself, making it more and more difficult to drink in time. The caffeine is highly concentrated, there's no getting to sleep after a cup of this. Everett will reward a free tin of it to anybody who can get down an entire cup in the store. Most people cough or wretch after a single sip, a sure sign that it's been well crafted. It's said to burn out illness and boost one's fortitude against curses.

IV. Warmth in more than Tea

To mark the occasion, there's more than tea blends on offer this day. In two warmed barrels is a bounty of apple cinnamon cider. One with alcohol and one without. The former isn't very high content, just enough to warm the belly and relax with.

This is served throughout the day, but becomes particularly tempting once the sky darkens in the afternoon. Overcast weather settles above the city, then. Rain will begin pattering down over the covered porch come evening, which is bright with lantern light and tea candles set out on the tables.

Grab a seat, if you can, it's the perfect hour to watch people go by or cuddle up with a companion. That or merely pop in to escape the rain, warm up before going the rest of the way home.

All prompts are open to any and all to play around with! The Grand Opening is from morning on the 1st of December well into the night. OOC Questions can be asked on the permanent locations post or Everett can be asked ICly in his TL here. DiplomaTea's permanent open post available through the Location Page is open to anybody who wishes to use the setting in the future. Have fun and tag around!
ua_duibhne: (o40)

[personal profile] ua_duibhne 2019-12-01 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[Diarmuid rests his chin in his palm with a soft, thoughtful hum. The sensible thing to do would be to graciously turn down his suggestion and go with something that isn't likely to give his headache a headache but he's never been one to turn down a curiosity and challenge.]

Let no man say that a Knight of Fianna shies away from pain. [With his free hand, he first taps the box labelled "Ardric's Warmth" and then "Adelheid's Heart".] Let's try half a cup of this blend for the hangover and then something gentler as a palette cleanser, hm?
ua_duibhne: (o35)

1/2

[personal profile] ua_duibhne 2019-12-01 09:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[Diarmuid watches with interest as the tealeaves infuse, colour swirling through the water in the first cup in a blush of pink that quickly turns carmine the longer it brews. The scent, however, isn't nearly so pretty. He scrunches his nose slightly.]

Is that so? [He glances back up at the faun.] I'd rather not let it steep too long and completely obliterate my sense of taste.

[That and he's too curious to wait much longer. With a nod of thanks- he's sure to take that back once he's gotten this down his throat but whatever- he draws the saucer closer. The smell is even stronger now but he doesn't hesitate even as he raises it to his lips. Bottoms up.]
ua_duibhne: (o52)

2/2

[personal profile] ua_duibhne 2019-12-01 09:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[mistakes have been made

It takes a moment for the realisation to reach Diarmuid's face and, even when it does, he has enough self-control not to immediately spit the tea back into the cup. His brow creases, a tear welling up in the corner of his eye as he struggles to actually swallow it. Thank the gods it's hot; at least the taste has been somewhat overtaken by heat, even if it doesn't stand a chance against the bitter burn.

Gulp.]


... is it supposed to make my mouth numb?

[He sounds a little hoarse. Oh dear.]
ua_duibhne: (o53)

[personal profile] ua_duibhne 2019-12-02 07:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[Easier said than done. Just as Everett predicted, the spice is starting to make itself known in an unpleasant, prickling across his tongue that soon turns acrid. This time, he really can't help himself. Giving a squeak- how mortifying- of disgust, he claps a hand over his mouth and stays frozen for a few moments, staring daggers at the cup of tea still in front of him.

You'll have to forgive him sounding a little muffled.]


... do your people really drink this as a remedy? Really?
ua_duibhne: (o58)

[personal profile] ua_duibhne 2019-12-02 11:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[He makes a short, uncertain sound but doesn't question him further. Well, if it's good enough for Everett...]

I... see. Then I should at least finish it.

[No one in the history of mankind has ever sounded so unenthusiastic about something as Diarmuid does right now but he's made his bed tea and he's going to drink it. No backing down now. Taking a deep breath, the witch seizes the teacup again and necks the rest of it in one go, cringing at his poor decision even as he goes through with it.

In between the heat, the taste and forgetting to breathe, it's really no surprise that he winds up half choking but he got it down- and keeps it down too. Still coughing, he sets the cup down.]


Ha... there. [his senses are on fire this is awful] Done.
ua_duibhne: (o49)

[personal profile] ua_duibhne 2019-12-03 05:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[The spluttering, while significantly lessened and mostly hidden behind his hand, has yet to fully wind down. As much as he wants to admonish Everett for even selling something so vile, he can't say that he doesn't feel better; maybe it's just having the distraction of something else terrible but his headache doesn't seem quite as bad now.]

That sounds a grand idea in theory but he'd probably find nothing wrong with it at all.

[There's a pause and then, a touch embarrassed, he nods towards the jug of cream still sitting on the table.]

May I? I think I need it.
ua_duibhne: (o64)

[personal profile] ua_duibhne 2019-12-04 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[It takes all of his self control not to just knock the cream back but he holds onto his dignity admirably and sips at it instead.]

... exactly as you promised. As much as I hate to admit it, you're right on both counts. [Diarmuid flashes him a small smile, twisting that loose curl of his around one finger sheepishly.] Maybe I should accept the tin after all.
ua_duibhne: (o67)

[personal profile] ua_duibhne 2019-12-08 10:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[Now that's much better- although he probably won't be able to fully appreciate its taste for a little while with his mouth still in absolute rebellion against him.]

A job?

[Now that catches him off guard. Diarmuid lets the curl spring free again and tilts his head to the side. It's... actually not a bad idea. While Diarmuid's contented himself with odd jobs and helping around the Coven to make ends meet, the idea of having something more set in stone certainly has merit.

He hums, thoughtful.]


I've never worked anywhere like this before. [a beat] ... well. I've never had a job in the conventional sense before anyway.