when the moon hits your eye... [Valentine's Day Date Night]

[ayes]

Who: You Watanabe (ayes) & lots of folks!
What: Valentine's Day Matchmaking: DATE NIGHT
When: The evening of February 14!
Where: Olympia
Warning(s): Some mild druglike effects, and probably some NSFW stuff in threads?

Earlier in the week-- about the night of February 12 or so-- you received a letter in the mail. Upon opening it, you found an invitation, hand-written in a sort of looping script.

Hello [YOUR NAME HERE]!
You're invited to a really great night!
On the evening of February 14, please come join us in Olympia for a special surprise!

Your friend,
You

P.S. "You" is my name. I'm not saying it's from you!

She's drawn a little smiley face on the invitation, and you may remember her from her earlier post to the network. For some of you, this invitation isn't surprising. You signed up for her party, after all. For others, though, this may come as a surprise.

[I: The Message & The Arrival]

Nevertheless, you decide to go anyway. She's listed an address in Olympia, and the night of the event, when you show up, it's a decent-sized dining hall. There are pink and red ribbons and balloons and lacy heart shapes everywhere.

You may catch sight of the young woman scurrying around, looking a little harried. Or you may just find other people who seem confused to be here. Did your name wind up in the drawing list? Did theirs? What's going on?

[II: Dinner...]

Be it as it may, you go inside. Inside, you can find more of those ribbons, and balloons, and hearts, as well as dozens of small, round tables for two, each covered in a white tablecloth and with a pair of candlesticks. Approaching the tables, you find that each seat has a small nametag, written in that same looping handwriting. They're names you may recognize: Reinhardt Wilhelm, Isabela, Mikazuki Augus, and more.

One of these names is yours. And across from you is another name. Maybe you recognize them, maybe you don't.

Either way, it's not long before someone comes by to light the candles and take your food order. You've got a date.

[III: ...and a show!]

Maybe half an hour after your meal order is taken and has been served (it's delicious, by the way) a spotlight cuts through the dim light, illuminating a small raised stage off on the side of the room. The young woman, You, is standing there, wearing a short dress that almost looks like that of a ballet dancer, her hair pinned up. She has to reach up to bring the microphone down. She's not very tall.

"Ah... um, hello? Is it on? Hi!" she says, her voice fast and a little nervous. "I'm You Watanabe, and... happy Valentine's Day! I hope you're all having a wonderful time, and maybe the person you're meeting tonight, um, I don't know, something could come out of it, I hope!"

She pauses, like she's not sure what to say. "Anyway, uh, I thought I'd perform some songs while you're eating, so listen if you want!"

You takes a breath and then steps back before gesturing to someone in the darkness, presumably who then starts a music track. She begins to sing and dance, performing a number of different songs. Some of them are sweet and slow, others a little more upbeat, and there's even one that's kind of... sensual in a rockin' way? Still, while her dance moves are well practiced and her voice pretty and clear, you get the sense that these song and dance routines were meant to be performed with way more than just one person. There should be harmonies or other parts there that are missing.

Still, there's an empty dance floor in front of the stage, and there's something catchy and almost strangely inspiring about the girl's singing-- even if this genre of music isn't your particular favorite, it's somehow encouraging. Why not ask your partner to dance?

[IV: Sin and Sweetness]

Eventually, You leaves the stage, thanking everyone, and the night continues uneventfully. As your dinner wears down, you may be drawn to a cart off to the side, piled high with desserts, pastries of all types and color. Eventually, a pair of waiters begins pushing it around from table to table. Do you want some dessert, they ask.

These pastries have been baked by your hostess, You herself, based off a book of recipes she'd found in some of the... seedier parts of the Entertainment District. There's another one of those handwritten notes in that looping script, written on thick card stock folded in two to make a simple sign:

Tonight's a night of excitement!
If you want a little help feeling romantic, try the pastries!
They'll definitely spice things up! (๑˃ᴗ˂)ﻭ

The various pastries themselves have similarly handwritten signs on them, notifying you (if a little obliquely) of some potentially interesting effects...

• Strudel: "Find beauty in the world!" (For whatever reason, other people look a little more attractive.)
• Baklava: "To tell them how you really feel!" (You'll feel more likely to be honest, if not overshare.)
• Cannoli: "Because love needs laughter!" (Everything other people say is somehow funnier than usual.)
• Cinnamon Roll: "The nose knows!" (The first person you look at smells oddly like your favorite smell.)
• Blueberry Scone: "For a bit of courage!" (This will make you feel bolder, intensifying emotions you already feel.)
• Mooncake: "To feel like falling in love!" (Every time you look at the first person you see, your heart beats a little faster.)
• Taiyaki: "Try to see someone else differently!" (Every time you look at the first person you see, there are little sparkles around them.)

The effects themselves aren't designed to be overwhelming or all that powerful, and can be resisted with just a little effort. However, You's recipe only dealt with one effect at a time. Mixing and matching multiple pastries? Who knows what might happen...?

There are also plenty of non-magical desserts, for anyone looking to sate their sweet tooth without chancing an odd experience.

[V: Singles Mingle]

You's spent most of her time arranging the couples event, of course, but if you didn't sign up, there's still a place for you! (Or maybe your date went terribly and you're here early.) There's a bar off to the side where people are welcome to sit and drink and meet other folks.

That said, they're bringing the pastries around here, too...

[VI: Wildcard]

Didn't see a prompt here for you? Write your own! The night has plenty of dancing, food, romantic moonlight, and plenty of places you can sneak off to be alone.

((OOC: As always, please label your threads if they turn NSFW, and make sure your thread partner(s) are okay with whichever pastry effect you're getting!))

Comments

[priorly]

I've never lost my head over somebody deadly serious in my life.

[How very dare you imagine Prior could spend long in the company of someone who doesn't make him laugh. Worse, someone who couldn't crack a smile in return.]

It's not the size of the intellect but how you use it that matters. [He considers his drink a moment.] Lou was a word processor at the Appeals Court. A secretary, without the 'glorified'. Not enough justice in the law for Louis. But tell me more about your lawyer. Have there been subpoenas exchanged under the table?

[vorrutyer]

He informed me - nearly the first words he said - I am here by mistake, and uninterested in romantic liaisons, but I will tolerate this encounter.

[ By sighs, and toasts Prior. ]

There are times one feels that the number of people in the world who know how to have fun is infinitesimally small.

[priorly]

That is quite the introductory shut down.

[Prior draws in a sympathetic breath.]

Well then, the fun's in making yourself as intolerable as possible, to see how well he keeps his word.

[vorrutyer]

[ A little laugh. ]

Or in finding out everything I can about him. There's a virtue in knowing all of a lawyer's dirty little secrets, no? They inevitably have so many.

[priorly]

Mm, but you can't seduce your way into his confidences. It's like working with one arm cut off.

[He leans out from the barstool, looking back toward the wide arch into the dining hall.]

Point him out to me? If he's cute I'll come and tell him we've been looking for someone to share.

[vorrutyer]

[ With a laugh, Byerly nods over at Edgeworth. ]

That one there. But don't you dare. I have ways of getting information other than seduction. Don't underestimate me.

[priorly]

As if I could. Look how much you know about me.

[Prior watches until the crowd shifts enough to afford him a decent view of someone a little severe but by no means unpleasant to sit across the table from.]

Ugh, he is comely enough. What a waste.

[vorrutyer]

Isn't it?

[ By sighs and shakes his head. ]

How many righteous, chaste straight men there are out there. It's a pity. There was one fellow back home I always had my eye on, ever since we were just youths, but he was so distressingly heterosexual. Truly dreadful.

And don't act like you're not a cunning interrogator yourself, Prior. I'd say you know more about me than...well. Than quite nearly anyone.

[priorly]

Righteous, straight men, in my experience- [Prior nods, attention still focused off across the room.] are usually terrible in bed. I've never given anyone the chance to improve, though - it was something of a matter of pride not to fall for anyone who wouldn't fall back.

[He looks down before turning back to the bar.]

Byerly, that's not interrogation. That's because you're not used to friends.

[vorrutyer]

[ By hesitates a moment, then decides to focus on that latter part. It feels less precarious. ]

I'm perfectly used to friends. Just not ones who have an interest in anything beyond getting drunk together.

[priorly]

[He refills Byerly's glass, leaning close enough to be able to keep his voice low, though the noise of the room mutes sound easily.]

You're used to associates, marks and unknowing informants. How often does that come up over drinks?

[vorrutyer]

[ A small laugh - not exactly confirmation, but acknowledgment of a sort. ]

I do like some of them.

[priorly]

Well I'd hope so, drinking can feel interminable with people you don't.

[And his own glass, next.]

But let the record show, without interrogation, cajoling or prophecy involved, you told me what you use people for, so you couldn't do it to me. I'd call that making the first move.

[vorrutyer]

A bit of prophecy.

[ By smiles a bit guardedly at his glass as he lifts it, watching the bubbles as they rise. ]

You were the one who started digging into the poor virgin soil of my soul, after all, with that insight of yours. The one part of me that was still virgin, too.

[priorly]

Well, it's not a first time if it's not a little messy, and that certainly was. But no, no that's not why you told me - right? That's what should have made me too useful to tell and you... handed me a guard and said put it up while you dismantled a little of yours. [He allows a shrug, an escape route from it having been something important-] Maybe you just worried I'd pick it up in the end.

[vorrutyer]

That was part of it.

[ But only part. He doesn't elaborate on what the rest was - not yet, at least - fiddling instead with his champagne flute. ]

[priorly]

Well, it meant more than a room in the house. [He hesitates over something and ultimately decides no - not now. Keeps the words behind his teeth.

He takes a breath instead.]

So, the game is, who's going home with who, tonight. I'm taking the easy pick.

[He points to a table where both occupants are now sitting in one chair.]

[vorrutyer]

Yes.

[ By clears his throat, finding it suddenly a bit thick with something. Fear? Something...more than that, he knows. ]

Agreed. Definitely them. But he's not going to be able to get it up. Look at how he's slamming back the booze.

[priorly]

Not necessarily true - some people have unfair quantities of refractory vigor. Still, if he stays that enthusiastic he doesn't really need to.

[He doesn't seem to have come up for air since they've been talking, for instance.]

Who else?

[vorrutyer]

If god be good, those ones there - [ By points at a little knot of three people. ] Will all end up together tonight. Hm? There's a possibility, at least.

[priorly]

[Prior watches for a moment, to see the interplay at work, murmuring low in response.]

From what I've heard about him, God would be all for it. And you could be right.

[He scans the room.]

But what happened to the poor, discarded forth wheel?

[vorrutyer]

Who says there has to be one? Perhaps these three showed up together. Or perhaps the third was one of those brave and noble souls who showed up single.

[ A little toast to Prior. ]

[priorly]

I didn't come for the dregs of the party. I heard the barman was cute.

[Smiling blithely, Prior looks along the bar and... recalls what the current tender actually looks like.]

...Turns out he's off today.

[vorrutyer]

Oh, don't be like that. That fellow is charming in his own way.

[ He grins at Prior. ]

Everyone is beautiful if you just look at them right.

[priorly]

That's unsettling sweetness, coming from you - and when he's not even close enough to hear and comp your next drink.

[Prior did look to check.]

Bullshit, as we both know, but very romantic. I appreciate your adherence to theme.