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!
faithlikeaseed: (blind - knucklebite)

[personal profile] faithlikeaseed 2019-12-08 06:47 am (UTC)(link)
Then you'll have it, [Myr says, without hesitation.] Since you surely deserve that as well.

[That there was more to the teahouse than its outward seeming was something Myr--could not help but be aware of, in a diffuse way. The reminder of it--the reminder that much of a diplomat's work involves misdirection, camouflage, delicate maneuvering--evokes a kind of wistful rue from his side of the Bond.

If it weren't for the sort of things that needed concealing in the Circle, Myr would live entirely in the open and the truth the Maker demanded of His children. Knowing that the wider world didn't really permit it either, whether on Thedas or off it, is a tender spot with him.

But that little bit of maundering is there and quickly gone again, perhaps easy to miss.
] It did sound as if you'd more than other Mirrorbound here, [he ventures instead, leading on,] --I imagine no one from the aristocracy yet, but anything promising in this first batch?
faithlikeaseed: (blind - :J)

[personal profile] faithlikeaseed 2019-12-08 07:35 am (UTC)(link)
[It's nice, having a Bond and the sixth sense it gives you for someone: When Everett leans in, Myr can lean to meet him, co-conspirator in whatever bit of juicy gossip is about to be shared.

The expression on his face is surely a memorable one too, eyebrows nearly to his hairline with his surprise. And then he laughs, bright and helpless at the very thought of that face.

He still hasn't any idea what Viren looks like but he's got to be almost permanently scowling. Surprised dismay would sit oddly on him.
]

Oh, Maker's love--poor Lord Viren, to have been in her way. Not the way he'd want his night made warmer, mm?
faithlikeaseed: (blind - :T)

[personal profile] faithlikeaseed 2019-12-08 07:50 am (UTC)(link)
[oh!! well. ...well. Myr's just going to reach over to rest his hand on a convenient bit of Everett, how about that.]

That mistletoe is a menace, [he says, with a shake of his head, and that's not exactly a joke.] Putting together such an unlikely pair's the least of its crimes.
faithlikeaseed: (blind - alarmed)

[personal profile] faithlikeaseed 2019-12-10 07:42 am (UTC)(link)
Good. [And that's more than merely relief at an inconvenience banished in Myr's tone.

The mistletoe unnerved him by its implications.

But it's gone--though he'd worry a little at what other people will do with it--and knowing that he can laugh at the foibles of his younger coworkers.
]

Let's se-ee... [He gets an expression of faux focus.] It wouldn't be Lord Viren else he and Sokie'd have locked lips willingly-- And that Steak fellow seems too much of a warrior to forget his equipment. I, of course, [he makes a show of reaching to where he'd had his ribbon wound through his antlers and it is NOT THERE!

The look on his face turns to one of mock horror.
] oh, no.

[Not that he needed one as a Faun, but like he's missing out on a chance at melodrama.]
faithlikeaseed: (blind - :|)

[personal profile] faithlikeaseed 2019-12-14 06:18 am (UTC)(link)
[That reassurance--below the level of words, below the level it can be second-guessed--goes a long way to easing Myr's misgivings.

He owes Everett a better explanation, he thinks, of why he'd been uneasy.

...and why he'd been discretely eating some of the mistletoe charms rather than placing them out.

But for now, he'll push that all aside for delight in his Bonded's delight, though his expression of pretended dismay only deeps at Everett's laughter. (It is all an act, gloriously and obviously.)
]

You're laughing at me, [mock-plaintive,] and the worst part is losing my ribbon didn't get me any kisses at all. Not a one!

[Pity a poor young Faun, Everett.]
faithlikeaseed: (blind - :J)

[personal profile] faithlikeaseed 2019-12-14 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[Primly,] You're my Bonded. You're supposed to kiss me; the whole point's to lure strangers in, isn't it?

[Which neither Sokie nor Viren are, but the thought of Everett talking either of them into kissing him finally gets Myr to drop the act in favor of a grin for his Bonded.] They've had enough misadventures for the night, I think, though if you do try to talk them into it I'd love to listen in.

[Especially Viren; Sokie, he thinks, might not mind under the right circumstances. Nor would Myr. In fact...

...actually, don't pursue that thought. Abruptly, to distract himself,
] Rich, I'm guessing. And that young musician fellow.
faithlikeaseed: cw for graphic eye injury further down the page (blind - chipmunk grin)

[personal profile] faithlikeaseed 2019-12-15 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
[Myr shakes his head--ah, youth--to here this explained, his smile softening as he does.] Silly boys, indeed. Though Rich's got much on his mind, of late. [So maybe a little absence is to be expected...

Thinking of all the reasons Rich has got to be distracted reminds Myr that there'd been one of those among their visitors today.
]

You met Linden, too, I'd noticed. ["Noticed," more like hovered around to listen in because he's a damnably curious creature. Though he had not been as worried as he'd thought about them getting along; he knew and trusted both his Bonded well enough to know they could.]
faithlikeaseed: (blind - blush)

[personal profile] faithlikeaseed 2019-12-15 06:20 am (UTC)(link)
As you've ever been admirably clear with me, I doubt they'll have much to complain of in the future. [His faith in Everett's ability to be, frankly, amazing at keeping a shop is completely unshakeable. His Bonded's utter confidence is seductive, in its way. Reminds him of who he'd once been and makes him want to do better, too.]

Ah, [and here Myr colors just a little, prettily, and ducks his head,] so you did. Thank you, for that; I was pleased, [extremely pleased, if the Bond's any tell,] you two got on so well. He needs that.
faithlikeaseed: (blind - concern)

[personal profile] faithlikeaseed 2019-12-15 06:40 am (UTC)(link)
Extremely, [Myr says, rueful and fond at once.] That is just how he is. He comes at the world from a different angle than most of us. Which is brilliant in some ways and in others, it's made him expect cruelty.

[So. Getting him in the same room with Everett, who greeted just about every kind of weird under the sun with kindness and curiosity, had been Important.]