Potluck Mingle: Welcome Party

[musketea]

When March 2nd Where Blossomcrown Central Park
What Potluck Mingle/Welcome Party

About.

What had started with Mami stress-baking far too much cake and offering to give some away, had lead to a number of other offers to bring food, and soon she had ended up in charge of a substantial potluck mingle. Well, she supposed it would make for a nice welcome party for everyone else who had been dragged into this strange new world with her!

And so, a number of small tables and picnic blankets had been set out with cakes, cookies, hot dogs, burgers and other sweet and savoury treats that her and others had been brought along. Mami had even taken the time to decorate the table with little flowers that she'd gathered as well, just to add to the atmosphere that the cherry blossom trees already provided.

Hopefully it would be a relaxing, pleasant afternoon.

Notes.

OOC: Feel free to make your own TLs, mingle, interact with each other and all of that stuff! I'll add a comment at the top for people to add what they're bringing along for reference (but contributions are of course not mandatory).

CODE BY MARWOOD

Comments

[at_heart]

Ha. Not easily, anyway.

[ He says, because his game mechanics definitely let him cook strawberry shortcake from anywhere with no regard for a lack of equipment. Something something adjust your expectations, something something mug cakes??? ]

Right back atcha.

[ This is where a high-five would go, if he thought he could get away with it. He offers his hand for a shake instead. ]

The sorbet's mine, by the way. Some of the sandwiches and the rice balls, too, though I wasn't the only one with that idea.

[princessofhyrule]

( Zelda makes a special point to try the sorbet and like everything else she has tried, it is absolutely delicious, and her face brightens into a broad smile. )

Your cooking is unparalleled. I know we have a purpose in being here but I want to learn to cook things that aren't just camp food. I think it would be fun and I have had a surfeit of fun lately.

[at_heart]

[ —w, well. Flustering a tiny bit? He thought she'd tell him what she'd made, if anything, but instead it's all like. compliments. ]

...Yeah, cooking's okay.

[ He likes taking care of people and he likes seeing them enjoying his food and he's a little bit too tsun to say either out loud. ]

[princessofhyrule]

It is something they somehow avoid teaching royal princesses how to do, therefore I am that much more interested in it. That's how I became a historian. You end up with a lot of hobbies when you're trying to avoid duty.

( Zelda laughs softly. )

I like the idea of making something that brings someone joy, even if it is just the fleeting joy of your sorbet.

[at_heart]

[ There are so many people who would double take or sit up straighter to hear the words 'royal princess', but Yuri just blinks and then smiles at her. Has a bite of his own food, then, mildly, ]

It's also easier to get into something you can read about in books, when you're too important to be allowed beyond the castle walls.

[princessofhyrule]

Exactly. You clearly understand my dilemma. Still, your sorbet tastes very, very nice. I applaud your efforts and contribution.

( Zelda's judgment is only based on taste but is taste not the most important part of enjoying food? )

[at_heart]

[ Tiniest fluster again, and he pushes out a laugh. ]

You're... welcome, then, I guess.

For the record? Not personal experience, exactly. I just have a friend back home.

[princessofhyrule]

Well, your friend misses some of life but likely for a good reason, yes? Surely they must be an important person to their country?

( Zelda is, even if the responsibility of it is stifling sometimes. )

[at_heart]

One of the candidates for the imperial throne, yeah. She's a good kid.

[princessofhyrule]

What a heavy burden on someone so young. I know the feeling. I would not wish it on anyone - it steals your childhood from you - but it is important, too, to know what you are born to do.

( Zelda tips her head, curious. )

And what is it that you did back home?

[at_heart]

[ His gaze is briefly measuring. Would you like how Estelle ended up, he wonders, or would it just make you envious and sad? ]

Hah. Me? Not much. Part of a guild called Brave Vesperia, though, and the guild helped people with all sorts of problems. Big and little.

[princessofhyrule]

A guild? That must have been nice, having a whole group of people to help you with problems and not having to rely upon yourself.

( Zelda hasn't had that since she began holding back the calamity and she misses it greatly. )

What sorts of things did you do for people?

1/2

[at_heart]

It— Yeah.

[ A warm, if slightly melancholy beat. ]

Used to think I did just fine on my own, but. It's nice to have people.

[at_heart]

And all kinds.

Find missing people, missing things. Rescued a lost cat one time. Helped organize and clean up a bunch of warehouses...

Definitely kind of an 'odd jobs' guild.

[princessofhyrule]

I wish I could do something like that. I was on one singular mission. I had a group of people helping me at one point but in the end, it was me alone.

( Zelda misses the others, especially Link, and wishes they could come here and enjoy this place. )

Perhaps you'll be able to do something similar here?

[at_heart]

Heh, that's the plan, once I can. Call it a local branch: Brave Vesperia Ellipsa.

[ His gaze a teeeeeny bit speculative on your face, Zelda. ]

Would you wanna join?

[princessofhyrule]

( The invitation is unexpected but quite welcome and Zelda nods her head in agreement. )

I would very much like to join. I am always interested in helping others.

1/2

[at_heart]

Cool. We do have bylaws, but they're pretty simple.

[ His voice goes a little more serious, a little more distant, as he recites: ]

One: We support each other and always act with the interests of the whole guild in mind.

Two: We strive to always do the right thing, and punish those who don't — both within the guild and without. If a guild member does something wrong, something serious, there have to be consequences.

Three: All for the guild, and the guild for all.

[at_heart]

[ Then he relaxes again, his smile back. ]

Don't let number two scare you too much. [ FOR ALL THAT THERE WAS A TIME WHEN HE CONSIDERED WHETHER "MURDER" WOULD BE A NECESSARY PUNISHMENT. It's complicated!!! ] Me and Judy both had to accept a punishment, but the boss punished himself, too, for not realizing we needed his help, and therefore breaking the first law.

[ His smile broadens, softens. ]

So we all stayed up late to do the research while the rest of our party made it an early night.

[princessofhyrule]

I am quite fond of following rules so I don't think I'll have any trouble with the second rule. I want to help people, though, and I am quite fine with putting the guild first while doing that. I would like to join in accordance with your rules.

( Zelda holds out her hand. )

I pledge my allegiance.

[at_heart]

[ A tiny surprised beat, then he grins and takes her hand. His handshake is warm and firm, confident but not like aggressive thanks corporate America for making me analyze handshakes. ]

So sworn. On the brightest star in my homeworld's star.

[princessofhyrule]

I think this will be a good agreement for us both. I'll try my best not to let you down and, if I do, please give me the critique I need to get better.

[at_heart]

It's a promise.

[ Not that he's worried, but who likes to hear that when they're asking to be kept in line. ]

Saya and I went and checked out this creepy abandoned farm on the outskirts of the city. I'd like to do that kind of thing pretty regularly — pick a direction and head out to see what we can find.

[princessofhyrule]

It will be good to know our surroundings and to know what treasures or pitfalls may lie there. The city seems very, very safe but it seems that once you leave it, the chance for injury greatly increases.

( Death, too, though Zelda doesn't want to think about that for the moment. If they could at least survey the segments and find what is useful and what is dangerous about them, it could be a great help to others. )

[at_heart]

And that's what they're willing to admit to us.

[ Yuri's not... well, no, he absolutely is kind of paranoid, ]