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!
firewalled: (You can make it on a wish)

[personal profile] firewalled 2019-12-16 07:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, a little. What can I say, I'm an asshole.

[He's trying his best to get over it, which is why he's still not snatching the notebook away, even if he's close to it, shoving his hands in his lap and looking anywhere but at Yuya and the book.

There's a dozen or two pages for the first chapter, though Rich's writing is fairly large. He does wave a hand, though, explaining himself again.]


Take your time. I, uh, I don't really want to give it away, but I can wait here while you read.
hippocarnival: (✮ 118 ✮)

[personal profile] hippocarnival 2019-12-16 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[Not too much, then. Yuya peeks up at Rich before turning back to the notebook and flipping back to the front page.]

Okay, but tell me if your break is getting close to ending! I don't want to get you in trouble. [So he'll start reading immediately after that, to get through as much as possible.]
firewalled: (You can make it on a wish)

[personal profile] firewalled 2019-12-18 12:36 am (UTC)(link)
No worries, I've got the time.

[Rich settles back in his seat, trying not to get too nervous. The beginning scene seems to start right in the middle of the action, with a bomb defusal two agents are working on. They banter back and forth, despite the seriousness of the situation.]
hippocarnival: (✮ 178 ✮)

[personal profile] hippocarnival 2019-12-18 04:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[Yuya nods and goes to focus right on the story. He doesn't mind getting straight to the action, because things are happening and questions can be answered later. And the banter's fun.]
firewalled: (get up get out and get done)

[personal profile] firewalled 2019-12-19 07:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[A lot of things happen all at once. Daniel and Mick, the two agents who usually go by 'Agent Molotov' and 'Agent Reggae,' manage to deactivate the bomb at the last possible second. They run into some cohorts of the villain in a grand ballroom while trying to escape, though one of the henchmen, Colton, seems to be a former agent who got mixed up with the wrong side. Agent Molotov helplessly tries to argue with him, nearly getting the two agents captured as Colton stalls for more backup. Luckily, Agent Reggae's quick thinking comes in to save the day, as he dumps a bucket of alcohol from a cart used to serve Spanish coffee and lights a fire that causes a distraction big enough to get the two agents to escape. Daniel teases about the similarities to his agent name, but is grateful to Mick, though, as the chapter ends, he wishes he could spend time with Mick outside of the force, and make him smile the way he only does when he's on a mission.

The second chapter follows, but is only partially complete, giving a bit of backstory on the two agents before the narrator ends up rambling... a suspicious amount about Mick's good qualities. The story cuts off there for now.]

hippocarnival: (✮ 126 ✮)

[personal profile] hippocarnival 2019-12-20 07:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[Yuya doesn't look up at he reads. Now everything's getting a little confusing (what's Spanish coffee?).

He pauses on the last page once he's done, for a moment, before his gaze drifts up.]


Um... is Agent Mick based on someone you know?
firewalled: (get up get out and get done)

[personal profile] firewalled 2019-12-22 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
[Rich, being the incredible liar he is, immediately turns bright red, fidgeting a bit in his seat.]

Wait, what? No, I don't think so? I mean, maybe sort of, but like, they say to write what you know, so... it's not anything more than a bit of inspiration from different sources!
hippocarnival: (✮ 167 ✮)

[personal profile] hippocarnival 2019-12-22 06:01 am (UTC)(link)
It's just, you--the narrator spends a lot of time complimenting him. [You're not subtle at all, Rich.]
firewalled: (Gonna disconnect from the hardwire)

[personal profile] firewalled 2019-12-23 09:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Ahaha, does he? That's super weird. I, uh, actually was working on fixing up that part, I mean, I had a lot of interesting ideas for the character, so I ended up rambling...

[Just play it cool, Rich. It's just that you had some character traits you wanted to work in. It's not like you know someone the guy is based off of. Obviously.]
hippocarnival: (✮ 111 ✮)

[personal profile] hippocarnival 2019-12-27 07:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Is that so... [Yuya slides the book back with a humorous grin.] Well, I'd like to read more about them and the agent that changed sides like that.
firewalled: (get up get out and get done)

[personal profile] firewalled 2019-12-28 10:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Uh... really? I can... keep writing, I guess. If you really want to keep reading it?

[He's still surprised to think that anyone would be interested in something like this.]
hippocarnival: (✮ 012 ✮)

[personal profile] hippocarnival 2019-12-29 06:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah! [He offers a wide grin.] I'd like to keep reading it if you keep writing.
firewalled: (To die)

[personal profile] firewalled 2020-01-01 03:59 am (UTC)(link)
Well, I don't really plan on stopping! Though with work and all, I might be a little slow. Guess I'll let you know when I have another chapter done?

[He's a little more interested in writing again... fixing his errors and continuing to make something that might be interesting.]
hippocarnival: (✮ 051 ✮)

[personal profile] hippocarnival 2020-01-01 08:25 am (UTC)(link)
I'd like that. [Yuya grins wide, moving to sit up from his seat.] I'll let you have the rest of your break, but thanks for showing me your story!
firewalled: (If you want to)

[personal profile] firewalled 2020-01-07 01:22 am (UTC)(link)
Nah, it's nothing! Thanks for reading it!

[If he has a couple more interactions like that, maybe Rich wouldn't be so unsure about his passions for that project. For now, though, he waves Yuya off and returns back to his tea.]