[OPEN MINGLE] Valentine's Day Mingle

[bluediligence]

WHO: Anyone! Everyone!
WHAT: Break the ice, get to know people, have some fun with social bingo tasks - as advertised on the network
WHEN: February 14th through 16th
WHERE: Plot & Patisserie in Blossomcrown; elsewhere
WARNINGS:

Coffee Shop & Valentine's Day Social Bingo Mingle

Open to all! Bring your own top-levels.

Plot & Patisserie is a quirky, plant-filled coffee shop and reading cafe in Blossomcrown. They've got everything you might want, from sandwiches and soup-filled bread-bowls to sweet cinnamon rolls, pastries, cookies, brownies, cakes and muffins … and, of course, a full range of delicious drinks. There are tons of books to peruse, too, if that's your speed — customers are welcome to grab something to read, with the option to borrow books library-style if they sign up to the Loyalty Schemers Club (up 3 books a week and points earned towards discounts and freebies!).

The cosy vibes carry through into the small, high-walled courtyard out back, with lanterns, fairy lights, and patio heaters a-plenty! Seating options out there include regular tables and chairs, couches in sheltered nooks, and hanging baskets with blankets and cushions.

Things are much the same today as they are every day … with the exception of a hand-painted sign outside the front door:

Plot & Patisserie Valentine's Day Social
We warmly welcome you to join us for a free hot drink and a casual, Valentine's-themed (PG-rated!) social bingo game!

All you have to do is come on in, get your custom-made, randomised card from one of team, and complete as many tasks as you can. Anyone who completes their card wins a free box of chocolates. Anyone who completes two wins our undying respect and a selection box of four cupcakes ♥

You can complete tasks with as few or as many people as you like! You've got until we close at 8pm on the 16th, so take your time, have fun, and remember to be respectful.

Bingo cards are, as promised, available to collect from the counter. They're all completely randomised and come in a sealed envelope for the Fun Surprise Factor, but if anyone really hates their card they are welcome to ask for a new one once. They're all hand-made and decorated, so be nice, okay?

Bits and pieces for completing tasks are also available! Some makeover supplies, including but not limited to silly safe-for-work costumes, a couple of polaroid cameras, a small pile of get-along-shirts, an actual podium for delivering speeches, and a variety of cute stamps for marking off squares.

podium for speeches

Comments

TASK: DELIVER A SPEECH (IN PUBLIC)

[bluediligence]

[ Do you have a task that involves giving a public speech? Lucky, lucky you! There's a podium and a microphone right here, conveniently located for maximum popcorn.gif. ]

[borelblue]

((Voice references can be found here. His voice is low, smooth, and as much of a treat for the ears as the chocolates are a treat for the tongue.))

"Good afternoon, everyone. If I could have your attention but a moment."

Aymeric took the podium after a few minutes to mull over an impromptu speech. The idea of having an audience didn't deter him - if anything, his biggest shock was underestimating the power of the microphone. Oh! He needed one of these back home.

But that was besides the point. After a moment of impressed surprise, the speech began proper, delivered with the poise and confidence of all his years of practice:

"I am Aymeric de Borel, and like some of you, I have been tasked with delivering a speech in order to fulfill a bingo square. Fear not, I shan't distract you from your food, or your loved ones, for long. To begin, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude the staff of Plot & Patisserie for hosting today's event. Yours is already a warm and delightful venue, and your labours of love are what made it so. Not to mention, of course, the delectable food and drink that you offer. So I think I speak for all of us when I say thank you."

"Now, since this is a day dedicated to love, and another one of my squares is 'talk about what love means to you', I would do just that. Love will feel different to all of us. And it is more than the romantic variety that receives much of the focus today. Love is a bond forged between people, tempered by shared experience, patience, and communication...to greatly simplify it, of course. Love ties together people who wouldn't otherwise have a reason to be in their lives. I could go on - such a complicated and incredible subject can hardly be given justice in such a short time. Regardless of the form it comes in - romance, friendship, family - we are all of us blessed to have it touch our lives."

"On that note, I would finish this speech by thanking my beloved wife, Night Sky, for touching my life. The joy you bring me is beyond compare. I look forward to every day, every moment, that we spend together. Thank you. I love you. And thank all of you for listening. Please, enjoy the rest of your day - and your treats."

Nakamori "Korone" Aoko | OTA

[bluediligence]

[ "Let us dress you up," they said.

"It's on your card!" they said …

SIGH. It doesn't count towards her card if her co-workers are the ones giving her the makeover, but okay, fine, f i n e. She'd ended up caving, going along with it anyways — there's only so long she can hold out against puppy eyes.

So. Here she is! Here's Korone! She's wearing longer, elbow-length gloves and a white choker at her own insistence, and a heart-patterned eye patch over her right eye (beneath her glasses.) It's honestly a super cute look on her, even if making space for her wings had taken some quick thinking and a dab hand with a sewing machine. ]

[ You can catch her behind the counter for just a couple of hours on the 14th, in the morning, but she'll be around most of the day on the 15th and 16th. ]

Hi! [ She offers a bright smile and a wave to any who approach. ] Thanks for coming by! Can I help with anything — a bingo card, help with a task, something from the menu?

[happydreamed]

As it happens, I need to learn five new things about someone I know, and who better than my dear friend and host of this event?

[bluediligence]

Ooh, that one!

Okay! Hmm, do you want random facts, or do you wanna ask questions?

[happydreamed]

Hmmm... You don't happen to have 'brag to someone' on your card, do you?

[bluediligence]

[ Ah. ]

Going for the jugular again, huh. [ NOT THIS TIME, SATAN. She offers him her card to take a look at. ]

No bragging here.

[happydreamed]

Curses, I've been foiled. [Hee.] Random facts it is, then.

[bluediligence]

Random facts it is. [ WHEW. RELIEF. ] Let's see ...

My favorite colors are blue, purple, and yellow.

I can bench press Donnie while he's wearing his battle shell. Once upon a time I nearly got grounded for picking up Church-san, an AI who weighs something like half a ton, because I wanted to see how high-pitched he could get with his yelling.

I've had Ievan polkka stuck in my head for the past two days.

When I was seventeen I found an sunken pirate submarine full of treasure.

One of my nicknames was Faito 'cuz within an hour of waking aboard the Aurora I'd thrown a mattress at a teammate and got into a brawl with a guy who later turned out to be my adopted brother.

[happydreamed]

[All of those are interesting, but-]

Can you pick up Red Son? Have you picked up Red Son?

[bluediligence]

Red Son-san? I haven't yet, but yeah, definitely. One-handed.

[ ... ]

If you wanna call him sometime, I could demonstrate.

[happydreamed]

I would be tremendously, tremendously delighted to see that.

[bluediligence]

Then consider myself at your service! Whenever you want, wherever you want!

[happydreamed]

Did he say he might come to this event?

[happydreamed]

[Kantera is here! He's paying Close Attention to Korone throughout the event in case she gets it into her head to do something strenuous, but if someone else approaches him he'll turn his attention toward them.]

Ah, good day. May I be of some assistance for your card?

Aymeric de Borel

[borelblue]

Aymeric joined in the fun, dressed in his newest outfit and accompanied by his dear wife, Night Sky. Although they'll be glued to the hip most of the day, it's possible to catch them alone - surely he can't fill out his bingo card with just Night Sky, after all.

i. [Closed to Night Sky]

It was a holiday dedicated to love and romance, of course Aymeric was going to take his wife out for a good time. As a bonus, it was just one letter off from being pretty much the exact same holiday at home.

Not that he needed a reason to be romantic, of course.

Still, as he sat in the booth across from Night Sky, you could practically see the hearts in his eyes as he asked, "Is the drink to your liking?"

ii. Wildcard

Bump into Aymeric elsewhere in the cafe. Help each other with bingo. Talk about books. Whatever it is, have a good time! :D

[wildwarden]

Night Sky may not have enjoyed crowds or confined indoor areas, but she did enjoy Aymeric and romance, so that more than made up for any discomfort she might have felt. She was getting better about that anyway - it was hard not to when married to Aymeric de Borel.

She sipped her drink with a hum. "It's good. Really... earthy, actually. What about yours?"

[borelblue]

He smiled. "As is mine. The apple blends well with the earl grey - an excellent choice," came the reply as he raised his glass, offering a cheers. "To love uniting us across the many universes."

Clink!

"I've a gift for you, darling. Well, two gifts, in a sense." Aymeric placed a small parcel wrapped in simple paper in front of Night Sky. "I do hope you'll like it."

[wildwarden]

"You know you didn't have to..." oh, what was the point? Aymeric was going to dote on her regardless. Night Sky offered her own cheers in turn, took another sip of her drink, and then started to unwrap the box. Pulling the chain and pendant out, she smiled, thumb rubbing gently around it.

"I love it." She said softly. "A moon and sun - for us. You're so precious Aymeric."

[borelblue]

And true to his nickname, he beamed brightly. "Full glad am I to see you pleased with it, Starlight. Wear it as you wish, though I thought perhaps it would look quite lovely as an adornment in your antlers. If you wish to wear it now, I would be happy to assist you in putting it on."

[wildwarden]

Gods he was so cute. Night Sky happily handed the jewelry back to him. "Sure. You want me to come to you, or-" a pointless question. Clearly her darling husband was going to come to her side of the table and put the thing on for her. She had to ask though.

[borelblue]

Of course he was. "No need, my love. Enjoy your tea," said Aymeric as he rose to his feet.

He fiddled over her antlers for a minute as he worked out how to drape the pendant both artfully and practically (he wouldn't want it swinging into her eye). Soon enough, he had something he was happy with - and hopefully, Night Sky would be too, not that she could see it without a mirror.

"Oh, it looks positively lovely on you," Aymeric sighed. He reached a hand over the table to take one of hers. "Your second gift is...an idea that came to mind recently. An offer. Night Sky, I do not doubt that you are happy in the home we've made together. Not once." He emphasized with an affectionate squeeze of her hand. "But I know that your heart is of the forest and the wilds. If you wish, we can go and live together in the forest for a time. Just us, and perhaps our animal companions."

His smile widened. "I would even be willing to dress in foliage as you do."

[wildwarden]

Night Sky sat still, eyelids fluttering slightly with each brush of his fingertips against her antlers. For now, she would take his word for it regarding how she looked.

"Thank you, Sunshine." She said, curling her fingers around his. Night Sky tilted her head quizzically. No doubt she was happy in the home they made - that had never been a question. But his offer was... enticing, to say the least. The dryad laughed. "Really?" Her eyes were bright - brighter than usual, truly, for how excited she was by the prospect. "I would love that- all of it."

[borelblue]

Aymeric's heart warmed at the gleam in her eyes. Her joy only added to her charm, her beauty. If they hadn't been in public, he would've taken her into his arms and kissed her. And, well, taken her.

His own expression softened with adoration in turn. "Oh, wonderful. Wonderful! I cannot tell you how happy I am to hear that you approve. When we go, I shall leave up to you. I do hope I make for decent Dryad myself."

[wildwarden]

For a moment, all Night Sky could do was stare at him; her expression soft and adoring. Aymeric was by far the sweetest man that she had ever known - and the fact that he was hers still baffled her to this day.

"I think you will. You have me to guide you anyway." She said, rubbing her thumb over his knuckles. "Can we go soon? As soon as you're ready, of course. I do still have that indestructible tent..."