EVENT - VALENTINE'S DAY

[thalassino]

◣ VALENTINE'S PARTY ◢

✗ The host club's doors are closed for most of the morning, locals scurrying in and out with an odd flair to help set up for the big event. That sure is a lot of pink and red being carted inside. They must be going all out for this Zelos fellow. Who knows why.

Residents that wander around the plaza for any reason will find a local approaching them, hyping up some aspect of the party that might appeal to them. The lights, the music, the dancing! The chance for gossip! Here, if your date goes poorly, we'll treat you to a drink. If your date goes well, we'll treat you to a drink. If you just want a drink for the sake of it... hey, you get the picture! It's something for both the single and taken alike, and the people of the city seem to be more than happy reminding you of this fact whenever they can.

✗ When it hits noon, all characters who have signed up for blind dates will receive an anonymous text. They will be wished a Happy Valentine's Day, congratulated on their upcoming date, and be asked to arrive at the host club between 5:30 and 6:00 pm. They will be given more instructions upon their arrival. And wear something flattering~! <3

✗ On their arrival to the club, blind date participants will be given a mask to wear. Once they put it on (and ONLY when they put it on), they will be given a number and escorted inside. The tables are covered in tableclothes of varying shades of white, red, and pink, elaborate flower arrangements in the center. While you are waiting for your date, feel free to enjoy the berries and chocolates set at each table, all appropriately cut into hearts and fish.

The meal itself will be three courses - an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert. The menus offered will be quite broad, noting quite well for allergies. Everything just seems to be very... pink. Even well-cooked meat and dark chocolate delicacies has been given a splash of decorative color in favor of the holiday. Is that candy on the top? Oh well. It doesn't look like a "CALL ME XOXO" heart will really kill you.

Masks will be difficult to take off until at least one course of food has been consumed. It seems like someone wants you to enjoy the spirit of your "blind date"!

A NOTE: The masks will block both identity AND, in some cases, a person's gender, until they are removed. Gender identification will be up to the players!

✗ At 6:30, the club is opened for everyone else. Feel free to adventure up to the bar or glance around at the couples. They might be a little unrecognizable, what, with those strange masks on. They look so familiar, but you just can't place who is who. Oh well. Mingle a bit and solve the mystery with those around you! Have a drink. Talk about your love life or lack thereof. A bartender is always there to lend you an ear.

✗ At 7:00, the tables are cleared, the lighting is dimmed down, music is turned up, and the center of the club becomes a dance floor! Plush red couches line the edges for those that have had a rough night, and small tables of chocolates, sweets, heart-shaped h'orderves and various colors of roses dot the area. Locals are working alongside the host club and maid cafe to make sure things are kept in stock. No getting close to the bar if you're under-aged or we may just have to end your evening right here and now!

Comments

[detectiveprincess]

Naoto gave a smile. The young woman was definitely pleasent to be around. She reminded the detective of one of her friends back in her own world. She missed that place and her friends and seeing someone like her both helped her and caused her heart to ache a little.

"I believe it is better to be early," she told her, "That way you don't miss anything that could be important.

[booyaka_boom]

"That's exactly what I thought! And this was the kinda thing that I didn't think I should be late for." Again, Selphie found it hard not to just prattle on with her usual stuff, and she realised that maybe she talked too much. Ordinarily, she'd have mentioned how she's never dated before, but that she guessed it would be rude to be late. But this time, she doesn't. She just smiled.

"Uhm...the food looks good." Selphie had only glanced at her menu, but she took the other one from the centre of the table and slid it towards her dinner date.

[detectiveprincess]

Naoto honestly didn't mind how much she was talking. She liked hearing about how different people thought. It let her know various people's ideas and mentalities on things. She could tell this girl was nervous by the slight wavering undertones, but she wouldn't hold it against her.

"It is rather important," she agreed as she took the menu into her hands. The food did look rather good, though she wondered how it would be cooked.

[booyaka_boom]

Selphie nodded, then bent her head to look closer at the menu. Of course she was aware of the mask she was wearing, but Selphie felt that she needed an extra layer of shielding. She just didn't know what to do, and she didn't know if she was doing things right.

"Hmm... Think I know what I'll choose."

Really, Selphie was thinking about the wine. Food would be great, but she'll only choose the smallest options, not sure how much she can manage right now. Pretending to be attractive was hard.

[detectiveprincess]

Naoto kept her smile to herself. The mask was doing a good job for both of them it seemed, though the young woman seemed to want to hide more. Not that she blamed her - she felt like she needed to stay a bit hidden herself.

"I believe I have an idea as to what I would like as well.

Of course she couldn't have any alcohol, but she could at least get some sort bubbly drink - perhaps some sparkling grape juice or... was that sparkling blueberry she spied?

[booyaka_boom]

"Oh! Then that's good!" After all, there were some really tasty things on the menu. Selphie glanced around the other tables, and noticed a waitress coming over to take their order.

Selphie listed the small, delicate foods that she wanted to have, along with a very chocolatey dessert. "And a large glass of sparkling wine, please." If Vatheon were going to offer such delicious treats, why not take advantage?

[detectiveprincess]

Naoto awaited for her turn to order. The girl liked sweets. That wasn't a bad thing. If anything, she had a bit of a sweet tooth as well. But it's not like she'd ever admit it.

The waitress looked to her and she gave her order as well - a small appetizer, one of the main courses (something traditional Japanese was on the menu), and something sweet for dessert. "And some sparkling blueberry juice please," she finished. She knew the meal would be good and she would enjoy it greatly.

[booyaka_boom]

Selphie glanced between her dinner date and the waitress, silently just wondering.. but that was the joy of having her face covered. She sat back in her chair, smoothing her hands over dress.

"So... what made you decide to sign up for this tonight?"

[detectiveprincess]

As the waitress walked away, Naoto returned her gaze to her date. The question was valid and inevitably would be asked.

"To be honest," she informed, "I'm not sure how my name got on the list. However, as it was there I was not going to be one to argue. Besides, it allows me to be able to relax some."

[booyaka_boom]

"Oh.. huh. I wonder if maybe someone else put it there?" Selphie bent her head, wondering if she was the only one who actually chose to put her name down. It was likely, she thought, and pretty typical.

"Well, I think you're right. It only makes sense to enjoy it as much as possible!"

[detectiveprincess]

"Perhaps, but it doesn't matter now. What's happened has happened," she gently smiled. With the second comment, she nodded.

[booyaka_boom]

"Yup!" Selphie smiled as she agreed, fidgeting slightly with her mask. Then she realised what she was doing and put her hands down on the table.

"I'm sorry. I'm just gonna say this now but, I'm not used to dates." In fact..she was pretty sure that she'd never really been on one.

[detectiveprincess]

Naoto noticed the fidgeting. It was obvious that the young woman was nervous. To be honest, she didn't blame her. The thought was only confirmed by what was said.

"I am not used to them either," she admitted, "I had a chance to be on a few before I was brought here but..." She didn't go into it, letting her voice trail off softly.

[booyaka_boom]

"Ooh, really? So you've got a special someone back home, hmm?" Now that they were actually some kind of conversation, Selphie seemed to relax slightly. More to the point, soon there would be someone at their table bringing wine and food.

"Or...were you very popular - date with more than one girl?" Selphie lifted her tall glass of sparkling wine and held it across the table. "Cheers - to a happy Valentine's dinner."

[detectiveprincess]

Someone special... Naoto felt her heart sink. "I... had a couple.... That I was concidering, but one left before I was brought here and I don't know if anything was going to happen with the other."

If she had taken a sip of her drink, she would have nearly choked. "I was popular, yes. However none of the ones who asked for me interested me at the time. I was more involved with something other than looking for a relationship."

She quietly held up her glass of sparkling blueberry juice. "To Valentine's Day."

[booyaka_boom]

"Wow..." Selphie leaned forwards into the table, resting her chin in her hand as she looked at her friend with renewed curiosity. "What is that like? I mean, to be wanted by so many people?" Because, God help her, that's what Selphie has always wanted, but has never had.

[detectiveprincess]

Naoto leans back a little, mulling it over as she takes a sip of her drink. She wondered how this girl would feel when the truth was found out.

"I suppose you could say..." she started, choosing her words wisely, "it's not all that one would expect. Especially when you want to be seen for who you are, not necessarily what you've done."

[booyaka_boom]

Selphie continued to watch Naoto in this fashion for a good few moments. Who you are, not what you've done. She guessed there was something in that, but still, Selphie would love to be wanted for either of those.

Eventually, she sat back, drinking some more wine as the food arrived, "Well, I'm sorry that you've ended up without those people tonight."

[detectiveprincess]

Naoto was confused as she said this. Ended up with out one of those people? She was being seen for what she'd done and not who she was? Did she know who she was already?

"What do you mean?" she asked as gazed at the young woman.

[booyaka_boom]

Selphie blinked back at her dinner date, feeling confused that perhaps she had said something wrong. "I just mean... well, you'd rather be with them, right? And..they're home..aren't they? So.."

[detectiveprincess]

Naoto relaxed some, mentally and visibly. What she thought was not what was meant. She didn't have to panic.

"There have been times where I wished I was back in my world," she admitted, "but the routine I've established here has not been terrible."

[booyaka_boom]

Selphie picked up her cutlery and began slowly eating her salad with prawns. It tasted good, and she smiled, beginning to relax more as she continued to eat.

"Oh? So you like it here?"

[detectiveprincess]

Naoto also began to eat on her appetizer. The food was quite good and so she wondered how it was cooked so nicely.

She shrugged some. "Sometimes it fine, other times it's not."

[booyaka_boom]

Selphie nodded slowly at that, agreeing with it, but not really sure what she should say about it. "Yeah... Vatheon can really suck sometimes." Hmm, maybe that was too negative, so she tried a smile, "But it can be...nice."

[detectiveprincess]

"It can be," Naoto admitted, "it just depends on the situation and what's going on. The curses can be a wear, but at the same time there are some that aren't so bad."

She didn't mind being part cat. The memory dreams hadn't been great, but it could have been so much worse. She had seen the effects of the other curses. Some had been fun, others not so much. It all depended on how the coral felt that week as to what it did.