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

Entry tags:

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

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!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's a holiday back in my world as well. Of course, the exact nature of how it's celebrated varies depending on where one comes from.

[Ah, that smile. He has a feeling what might be on her mind... would it be best to avoid mentioning it? Maybe he can at least get her mind on something else.]

But I hope I'm not the only one who's been enjoying himself... ah, have you tried any of the desserts yet? I haven't eaten all of them, after all.

[...would it be weird to offer the fishgirl a fish shaped pastry?? He's pretty sure the taiyaki caused the sparkle effect.]

How did you celebrate it? If you did at all. [She has a feeling the whole 'love' part of this didn't really apply to him, given his own admission that his kind didn't really feel that sort of thing. Supposedly.

She shakes her head at the question, leaning in with interest to look at the taiyaki. She's never actually seen one before, so her face lights up with delight when she spots it] Oh! It's a fish! [Mipha laughs as she reaches for it] May I?

In the country I lived in, Valentine's Day was a day where women would give gifts of chocolate to the important men in their life! Then, those who received chocolate would return the favor with gifts a month later, on a separate holiday called White Day.

Ah, and seeing as I'm a rather big fan of sweets [GESTURES AT THE PLATE] my subordinates would often spoil me to keep themselves in my good graces for the rest of the year!

[...he's almost drooling just thinking about it. What a shame to think he won't get any chocolate anymore, even if it was always pretty explicitly a bribe.]

[Of course, then he sees her eyeing the taiyaki... heh.]

Please, help yourself!

[She considers that a moment and then replies, quite sincerely] I'm sorry I didn't get you anything then. Not as a bribe, of course, for there's nothing you have that I'd want so badly. [Ouch??] But because you are quite important to me. Perhaps I'll have to give you something late, then, if that's alright...

[She's

she's taking it kind of seriously. It's an Important Ritual, clearly.

But she looks so pleased to take the taiyaki and nibbles it curiously before looking delighted all over again. She smiles brightly and looks to him to say--soemthing, but whatever it is is possibly lost forever at her startled look.]

Oh! ...You're sparkling!

[...he has nothing that she wants???]

[Somehow these words, they cut so deep, #lifealert--]

[Wait, did she say she was gonna get him something anyway?]

Ahh, if you'd like to, I'm certainly not going to talk you out of it!

[AND THE MOOD IS SAVED tbh he'd probably be sparkling with or without the taiyaki at this point. But when he sees her reaction, he can't help but laugh.]

Fufu, that's how it looks, doesn't it? It seems these pastries have all be given a very mild enchantment -- it doesn't seem to last more than a few minutes, and they're all fairly harmless!

["Fairly" he says. That depends on the person, maybe.]

Somehow, I'm not surprised. [That he's not going to talk her out of it, she means. She laughs and teases] If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were just greedy.

[A mild enchantment?? She looks slightly apprehensive and concerned now.] Couldn't that be a little dangerous? And you have been eating quite a lot of them...

Well, I am a demon.

[THINGS HE CAN ACTUALLY SAY NOW]

But I wouldn't have offered you one if I had any reason to believe they were dangerous! I've been studying this world's magic for quite a few months now, after all -- were the spells anything more potent, I would have noticed sooner!

[But uh. He does give his own plate a glance.]

Hmm... still, I wouldn't recommend mixing more than one effect at a time. [He lifts up his drink -- which is still mostly full. Aside from sweets, he hasn't actually indulged that much tonight.] I've hardly had one drink, and yet I feel a bit... er, floaty.

[He's still having trouble looking at her tbh.]

[Does it feel good to be able to say things like that.

Still, despite his reassurances, she can't help but feel concerned. She scoots closer and reaches out for him to touch his face, trying to turn his head to look at her and feel his forehead]

Are you sure you're alright? My abilities can't heal illnesses, I'm afraid, but I have been learning from the others at the Sanctuary.

[It seems the double combo of touch and being turned to face her just dials the effects up to eleven, because as soon as their eyes meet, he feels his heart practically skip a beat in his chest.]

[Which is more than enough to have him abruptly pull away, nearly falling out of his seat as he does. At least looking away seems to calm it back down, but all the back and forth is getting to be rather unpleasant.]

[...And nevermind how worrying it might be to see him clutching his chest as he turns away.]

It's-- fine, really! It would take more than a few harmless spells to knock me down!

M-Mephisto! [THIS IS...ALARMING?? SHE IS ALARMED.]

Are you... quite sure? Perhaps the alcohol combined with the magic is causing something? [You know how you should mix some medicine with alcohol? Maybe magic is the same way?? She doesn't know okay]

...I think it has less to do with the alcohol and more to do with you.

[He mutters this before shooting her another glance and... yep, that sure isn't helping.]

Considering the purpose of this evening, it's possible the spells may be designed to encourage certain feelings between couples. I suppose ordinarily they aren't very strong but... it seems I've been done in by my sweet tooth.

[Mipha draws back, surprised and uncertain with what to do with that information.]

You-- Oh. Oh dear. [She covers her mouth with her hand, looking like she's caught between being highly concerned and laughing at him. At least it's not nearly as bad as, say, an actual illness. There are worse things in life than being forced to feel dokis.]

I'm very sorry. [She doesn't sound sorry at all]

You don't sound very sorry!

[HUFFS he is being shamed!! He's just gonna sulk about it like the child that he is tbh.]

[But wow, he thought she was beautiful before but she's even prettier when she laughs, making him want to steal a glance again... what are these dokis, make them stop!!]

Tell me when yours wears off. Perhaps then I might get an idea of how long this should last.

[Spoilers: it's gonna be all night regardless, karma's a bitch.]

[She tries very hard to stifle her giggles and look appropriately sympathetic.] Poor thing. I'm sure it won't last forever, at least.

However... I believe some of the sparkles are already stated to fade... Perhaps it depends on how much of it you ate? [Pause.] ...You are quite a bit, didn't you.

Is it a crime to indulge in a few sweets now and then? [A few, he says.] I didn't eat anything else all day-- we don't have the same diet as humans. I don't even bother to eat most of the time!

[EXCUSES]

Ah, but at this rate, I suppose I'll have to deal with this for at least an hour, if not longer. Though some might wear off sooner than others... perhaps I should have paid closer attention to which ones I ate...

A few? No, of course not. When you threaten to clean out the place, however... [Her shoulders are shaking with suppressed laughter. She can't help it, he's making this too easy!!

She looks thoughtful for a moment] Mephisto? Would you mind coming a bit closer? [She has an idea, it's not at all ominous.]

Oh-- now you're just exaggerating! There's still plenty for everyone else!

[This is a pretty rare thing Mipha's witnessing here. Mephisto wasn't usually very easy to tease. Sure, she had something of an upperhand over him being that she's someone he does make the effort to be nicer too-- but being teased to the point where he's flustered and pouting about it? That's a product of those pastries right now.]

...closer? [How close... he can really only get so close before the dokis get unbearable, but he'll scoot over a little, leaning down a bit -- his face still turned away.]

[She reaches up and takes his face in her hands, firmly trying to turn his face towards her so she can just. Kiss him.

Yep. Just like that.

It's a chaste kiss and brief, as she's soon pulling away and looking at him with a curious sort of expectation.]

Did it wear off some?

[He'll allow himself to be moved when tugged over, but he's really... not expecting a kiss.]

[Whether it's something Mipha would have noticed or not, Mephisto's pointedly decided to keep a physical distance from Mipha since their talk. Honestly, flirtatious words aside, he didn't think she'd even be interested in it anymore after learning about how he'd lied to her. Which makes the kiss unexpected in more ways that one.]

[Which is certainly why his reaction is going to be so over the top--]

[There's a moment where it looks like he might just shove her backwards as if to increase the distance between them -- but that doesn't happen.]

[Instead, he just kind of sits there, stunned and blushing and... g-giggling, in that weird lovesick way that probably just sounds creepy coming from him.]

Ah... hahah. I don't think that... worked?

Maybe you should try again?

[Or kick him out of his seat tbh.]

[It had been a good couple of weeks of mulling everything over and over again in her head. Parts of the conversation play on repeat some nights, and every time she sees him she's reminded of the lie he performs. Though he's proven so far to be holding true to his desire to be more open and honest with her, it's still something to remember.

But, she'd resolved to forgive him and move past it, to go back to normal as best she can, just with a new, more honest overtone. And part of that included getting comfortable with touching him again.

Honestly, part of it is fueled by the fact Link isn't around anymore, and despite the fact she'd never been intimate with him, he was still always around. Until he wasn't. And Mipha can't help but feel lonely about it once in a while. Probably it was a bad idea to kiss him in the first place, BUT to be fair, she did have a legitimate reason behind it!]

I thought, perhaps, given the nature of this event and everything, it might diminish if there was affection involved...

[She really should just dropkick him or something, but she's quite honestly wondering if maybe him knowing it's coming will change things. This is maybe 20% just craving that sort of comfortingly familiar intimacy with him, and 80% genuinely wanting to see if it'll help.]

...Once more wouldn't hurt, I suppose.

[Mipha you're spoiling him, jfc]

[Oh, she's definitely spoiling him, and he's definitely going to take advantage of--]

[...]

[Before she can so much as lean in to try again, he reaches out and sets a hand on her shoulder -- keeping his arm steady to maintain that distance between them. He keeps his eyes closed, head angled down... still blushing, but at least the giggles are gone.]

You know, on second thought... not that I don't want to but, er-- I think that just made it worse, actually.

[BEING A GOOD PERSON IS HARD]

[She pauses, surprised.

Is

is this what rejection feels like???

Okay no, it's not like that, but she is wondering just how badly this is all getting to him.] is it? I'm sorry.

[She does sound genuinely apologetic about it too, frowning in concern] ...Would it help if I left, then? 'Out of sight, out of mind'?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/3

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject