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

[cajolery]

[ Who knew that it was this easy to get Mika to smile just by giving him food? Well, now she knows... she tucks the knowledge away along with the warmth in her heart, seeing him smile. ]

Indeed. I should very much hope so.

[ She answers readily, since she has more than enough experience with formal dinners and the like. Name cards for those kinds of functions could be a double-edged sword—sometimes you were seated next to fun tablemates and sometimes you very much weren't. This one—well, he's not so bad.

After weaving through the tables a little bit, she finally spots their names. ]

Ah! Here we are.

[sparsity]

[ A blood oath was about as formal as his life had ever gotten event-wise and that's, well. Pretty different Still, "not so bad" is something he'll take, as far as being part of a pair goes. Once they sniff out their table, he hums, tone still carrying some of that awed quality with it. He reaches out with his free hand to run his fingertips over the tablecloth. ]

There really is one.

[ Decorum isn't his gig, and neither is noise, but there's something about the air of the place — some having fun, others bickering, the works — that reminds him of better times.

Weird.

He pulls the chair out the slips the red box onto the table, looking across at Clair with a sudden curiosity. ]

Is there a food you like to eat?

[cajolery]

A food that I like?

[ She looks a little surprised by the question, if only because Mikazuki rarely asks these kinds of things—then again, they are on a date. Conversation is important! Or so she was given to understand. Is he putting forth an effort in that regard?

A beat later, she smiles, the look in her eyes softening. ]

I enjoyed anything prepared by our cook, for she made the most wondrous food! My favorite was always dessert—fritters, custard, darioles...

[ She trails off a little wistfully. ]

[sparsity]

Sweet things?

[ If Mikazuki were to really think about it, he might have surprised himself with that question too. It's not like he ever really got to know someone well by talking — he's a person of action. It seemed a good enough thing to ask though, if only because, well. Food.

An effort well met both ways, thankfully. ]

I haven't heard of those, but homecooked meals are always really good.

[ Desserts and all. It's something he misses too. ]

[cajolery]

[ Sweet things. Just see for yourself. ]

Oh, but you simply must try them! I have found shops here that sell such desserts, or similar. I shall take you there.

[ As usual, there's no room for dissent in her pronouncement. One of these days, she'll drag him all over Olympia to try sweets whether he wants to or not—but he probably won't mind. ]

Of course, they cannot hold a candle to the treats that Cook made... I admit, I do miss them terribly. I find it difficult to replicate myself... [ Mainly because she has no idea how to cook. ]

And what is your favorite?

[sparsity]

[ Not really the same breed of social butterfly (if at all), he's more lenient than he lets on about being dragged around for day adventures. Plus, sweets are never a bad bribe. So though he's not confirming future outings... he's not refusing, either. Mostly because he knows better if Clair's made up her mind.

They'll get there when they get there. For now: ]

For sweets... chocolate, I guess. I didn't know there were so many types. [ oh, and ] Cannoli are delicious too.

[cajolery]

Mm, yes! The chocolate here is sweeter than in Valentia, but it is that much more delicious, I find.

[ She wasn't particularly listening to the music before, but now a few couples head for the dance floor, drawing her attention there. Whatever they were doing or talking about—she's instantly forgotten about it, hopping up to her feet and bouncing excitedly. ]

Oh, dancing! Come, come!

[ She thrusts her hand out towards Mika, palm down, not even giving him a second to react before she starts shaking it impatiently. ]

The gentleman shall have my hand for this dance.

[sparsity]

[ ...That's familiar. Mikazuki blinks as if he's realizing what's suddenly gotten into her, noticing the music once her hand starts wagging around in front of his face. Unlike before, he's not nearly so opposed, though he's almost, almost, hesitant when he reaches out to accept. ]

Okay... I haven't done it very much though.

[ Still better than never at all.

Right? ]

[cajolery]

[ The second he takes her hand, she tightens her grip and starts dragging his ass out to the dance floor. ]

Then I shall show you how it is done! 'Tis really quite simple, I assure you.

[ Once they've made it to the dance floor, she releases his hand and pulls him into the classic closed hold with his hand covering hers. She guides his other hand to rest behind her back, at the curve of her waist ]

Place your hand here, like so.

[sparsity]

[ — oh, well, here he goes. He's not given any time to bridge the fact that he agreed (as if he had a choice) to his sudden presence on the dance floor, so he just does as he's told and settles his hands where she puts them, grip as steady as ever despite himself. He vaguely remembers this from the gala, but he also got blasted in the face with gold glitter, making this kind of thing seem less out of his league.

No such buffer is gracing him now, but hey. He's already here. With a slow nod, he steadies his hold on her waist, looking at their feet for a long moment before flicking a glance back up. ]

Simple. [ SURE ] Now what?

[cajolery]

[ He really doesn't know anything... at all. Very well. ]

Now step forward with your left foot.

[ Then she guides him through a simple box step, explaining every step along the way. It might be obvious that she has a more formal education in this, judging by the way she keep her spine straight and elbows raised, her every movement controlled. ]

'Tis very simple, no?

[sparsity]

[ Despite being, well — himself, he's a quick learner, and not nearly as stiff as his stocky posture implies. Being a fighter makes physical motions sink in easily, though Mikazuki depends on Clair to keep him aligned once they make it through a few of the steps.

Enough to feel comfortable enough to look up, anyway. ]

Yeah, it's okay. [ Baby steps... ] You do this for fun?

[cajolery]

[ Baby steps... she leaves him to it, letting him get used to the pattern before she starts throwing any other moves at him. ]

Oh, yes! Dancing is quite popular. At court, we often make a night's entertainment of it, with food, drink, music, and dancing.

[ This poor peasant doesn't even know... ]

—Or did, in any case. [ Before the war, before the Storm. ]

[sparsity]

[ Not even his brand of peasantry could have prepared him...

Still, he's following obediently, and even moreso, listening. ]

Aren't there a lot of people here who like that kind of thing?

[ Nobles and such. ]