[Don't mind if midway through the day you happen to get passed by a few locals carrying what appears to be higher-quality catering from various places, directed by a tall, dark man in a light grey suit jacket and slacks. It's dressed up enough to imply a special occasion and casual enough for a relaxed date (no tie today!), but... he seems to be all business in attitude right now.
Maybe he's no good with decorations or music, but he came here to have a good time, damn it. He's not going to suffer the insult of cheap snacks.
Over time, he can also be found at the bar or playing card games. One might almost think he's taking the time to relax!
ooc: or, plot with me! I'm at lumieresdedragon and here, and you can find more information on Zekarion here!]
⬬ it's amazing what you'll find face to face | speed dating
[Well! With that initial problem tackled—Altius signs himself up for speed dating, and soon enough finds himself sitting across from another Chosen. After smiling at the person across from him in greeting, he lets himself sit back a bit, shuffling through the question cards with an increasingly confused raise of his brow.]
"If you were a plant, how many times a day would I have to water you?"
[He's not actually asking; his rising tone makes it clear how baffled he is at the presence of this question. He goes to the next card, which dims his expression slightly with something serious, and the next one...
He sets the cards down with... slightly more force than he needs to. Ahem. When he leans forward, resting his chin on the back of his hand, he's smiling pleasantly again.]
How about this: what's your favorite thing to do on a date?
⬬ it's my pride that made me distant | tunnel
[Looking over his shoulder back at the entrance of the tunnel, Altius is starting to have slight regrets. Should he really have let his guard down...?
Ah, well. It's too late now; he'll figure it out. Whether the person paired with him entered willingly or was all but shoved towards him by one of the staff (or a friend bullying them), he'll let out a mild sigh, shrug and turn an exasperated smile to them in the dark.]
You don't have to hold on the entire time if you don't want to. I won't tell anyone.
[Unfortunately it seems like Zekarion just happens stuck with one of the most series person that can be found from Aldrip (allegedly) for this first round of speed dating. And Richard, just like most of times, really has no idea what's the point of the whole thing. Or rather, it's not like he doesn't know what is the purpose of the game or how to play it. More like that he personally just doesn't see the appeal of it. Though, he supposes that his brothers' and their peers would have loved something like this.
The first question just has him confused, missing completely the lewd double meaning behind it. He's no gardener nor a farmer, how would he know how often one needs to water their plants? The second question his companion asks is more familiar to him, for sure, but not really any easier than the previous.]
I would not know. [Says the man who has been married for ten years or so...]
[ Shigeru is the one being dragged, yes, please for the love of god help him?? He looks all sorts of flustered and confused as he's brought to the event center against his will!! Sure he's single but he doesn't want to be here and it shows as he just wallflowers himself into a corner.
But eventually, he will just keep himself to the table with the lackluster food, a pout evident on his features. ] I-I wish they would have let us cook stuff. It looks pretty...bland. [ He will poke at whatever food that is sitting on his plate untouched with his fork. ]
I wonder what this is all for though? Is it a trap, a false sense of security, they have to be cooking up something, right?! [ Please, Shigeru, don't start in with your conspiracy theories. ]
Speed Dating (oh no)
[ When he has sat down thanks to the event coordinator the question presented is...yeah. ] Would you still love me if I was a worm?
[ Shigeru looks at the other Chosen in complete confusion before shrugging?? He's sorry this is the first question on the card?! ] What kind of questions are these?
[ He's going to die!! ]
I-I'm sorry. I'm not really good at this sort of stuff! Maybe we can just sit here and-and pretend to...talk. Or maybe a better question, um. [ Hm!!! ]
What's your favorite hobby? [ That's better, right? ]
Secret Tunnels!
[ The tunnel isn't the issue it's the holding hands that is causing Shigeru to really pause and check out. His hands are always gloved as people will easily see and tell. His phobia is not kind in that way at all and he really doesn't want to hold hands if he can help it!! ] Do we really have to hold hands the whole time??
[ He almost sounds like he's whining because, why, cursed, he hates it thanks! ] Can't we just go in without doing that??
[ He wants to see what's inside the super secret tunnel!! ]
[The person sitting across who looks like he just rolled out of bed finally speaks up and stops with his stupid smiling. His brows pinch together in thought but he waits for Shigeru to ask his next question. Sorry Shigeru, he's still going to answer the original one!]
A worm. A worm...hmmmm. I feel like love is such a commitment! [Teehee] I don't know you that well yet. But going by looks I'm sure you'd be a very charming worm! As for hobbies, I think my favorite one might be talking to you.
ARRIVAL. [ to be truthful, he hadn't remembered this place at first, and that had nearly been.. dangerous. having been in some form of conflict for most of his life at this point, particularly since the start of the war, sephiroth's first instinct in what appears to be enemy territory is to firaga first and ask questions later.
but then something about it had shaken a distant, mostly-faded memory loose. doesn't he.. know this place? he went away a few years ago, didn't he? it was right after the rhadore disaster. he'd been away for months. how had he forgotten that? it had been so.. strange, so kind.. maybe he thought he'd dreamed it. like those dreams of his mother, of jenova.
no. of lucrecia. her name was lucrecia, and someone-- someone had told him that. someone important. someone-- ]
Excuse me, [ it takes all his self-control not to grab the next person he sees, but he knows the effect he has on people now. at six-foot-four and dressed in armor and carrying the masamune, he's not precisely a comforting figure. between that and his alien eyes-- .. oh, but those hadn't mattered so much here, either, had they?
he blinks once, trying to clear his mind of the memories, staring into the face of the person he'd stopped. ] Do you know where I might find Vincent Valentine? [ it's been years (for him), so it might be a long shot, but it's worth asking, isn't it? ]
SPEED DATING. [ he has a little time to get sorted out before he's practically dragged to some sort of party. don't ask where he got the civilian clothes (black sweater, black slacks, black shoes), but it's a slightly softer first soldier in the chair. lengthy hair in a high ponytail, expression the polite neutral he uses in interviews and other public appearances, legs crossed and long hands folded atop his knee, he looks.. if not approachable, at least not cold.
one of the sheets of paper is on the table directly in front of him, edges lined up with the edge of the desk, precisely centered. as someone sits on the other side, he offers a reserved, polite smile. ] My name is Sephiroth. If you'd like, you're welcome to ask the first question. [ he has no public relations here to tell him how to answer, and that's.. nice, actually. ]
WILDCARD. [ or feel free to deliver a box to him, he'll be pretty confused about it. likewise, happy to do a tunnel prompt, though he'll be resigned about it and wary of the handholding. otherwise, hmu perilous if you wanna hash something out. this is just grown-up aonibi. ]
[Mel has never taken a part in this kind of thing before. She's been always so busy with... well, everything, and all the social events she had to attend and organize never included this. Unless she was stubborn about it, and it happened only once.
This just seemed to be a perfect way to meet someone new and out of her circle, so she let the staff lead her to the nearest table. She places her drink down and takes a seat, pulling her cowl back so she has proper eye-to-eye contact with the man sitting on the opposite side.]
Mel Medarda. [She offers her hand in greeting. Then looks over the questions on the paper, not impressed by the "offer".] These are all oddly personal. [Do people exchange this information on first dates for real? Her way of getting together with someone is, well, complicated. And far few in between.]
Speed Dating [The Doctor isn't exactly sure what he got himself roped into this time. From what he observed one sits across from someone else and chats but chats about what? Before The Doctor can ask he's presented with a clip board of questions]
What is your favorite romantic thing to do?
[There's an alarm look on The Doctor's as his mind clicks on what this actually. He slowly closes his eyes as he internally swears in alien]
Secret Delivery [The Doctor reads the note attached to the box. For someone with black hair. Okay that couldn't be more vague. More importantly, The Doctor shakes the box, what is inside?]
[Octavian is not the baby, for the record. That's not why he's here. Though this is still technically the first Valentine's Day and/or generically titled V-Day that's ever been even slightly of note to him, that still isn't the reason he's come to this event.
No, he's come to do some field testing for a joint personal project, actually. A local has insisted on pinning a paper heart to his dork-ass sweatervest and he's left it there as he follows around a small, about knee-height robot (imagine a more clean/polished look than this... also a familiar Blue Glow in the eyes iykyk) a few strides behind as it wanders around the event space. The little robot has the pathing capabilities of an advanced Roomba, so every so often Octavian has to duck down and lift it and turn it around when it gets stuck on a piece of furniture or maybe a person. Oops. Sorry about his child.
Eventually the robot manages to walk right up to people and hold something out; most often one of the paper decorations, sometimes a snack, maybe even a question card swiped from speed dating— and then it waits for its delivery to be accepted. Upon acceptance it will turn and go off to pick up something else; refuse and it will start to beep, quietly but insistently.
Octavian is there, very visibly in charge of this little thing, but he won't interrupt unless someone looks like they're going to be mean to it. Or if it falls over. But if you look at him while dealing with the robot, he will simply say:]
He is on a special assignment.
annoying guy at speed dating
[This, too, is not why he came here. He's since taken the time to write "No Advances Please" on the paper heart stuck to his vest in small, mostly-legible handwriting, which he figures is good enough.
But he's still sat down at this table and has a small stack of questions. The robot is also here, glowing blue eyes staring over from his side of the table. It's fine.
Octavian doesn't stop for greetings, simply looking down at his questions. It says, What’s the hardest thing about being in love? and Octavian scoffs quietly, puts it down on the table, and says instead,]
What is your favorite alchemical compound?
[If that gets no immediate response, and we're talking Immediate, he goes for,]
Did you know a goldfish's age can be determined by its scales?
[And then,]
What is the next number in the following sequence: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21?
[If you try to get up and just leave this nonsense, he leans forward and puts a hand on your wrist. Gently. But intently.]
We have four minutes and seven remaining seconds to bond.
misc/wildcard
[lol. hey. as his handwritten not-a-nametag says, he's here for platonic things only, so all may approach. jojoveller if you need me!]
speed dating because i thought it'd be funny to shove a skeleman at the ghost
[Look, he might have answers to those questions, clearly this guy has no standard in terms of waiting for a response. The sheer impatience! Just when he considers bailing, that's when Octavian catches him.
Son of a bitch. It's tempting to force him off, but Phosphorus isn't convinced that this isn't some whacky training simulation that he's being forced through yet. So, like, what if he fucks it up and gets a nasty shock? That would suck.]
Y'know, for a guy not looking for a romantic getaway, you're pretty demanding. Relax, man.
[ There's something a little nostalgic about this event. It feels just like yesterday that Minato found himself getting shepherded off to that masquerade. That one seemed far more grandiose next to this humble little gathering, but it's nevertheless equipped with just as many activities.
Well, it's as they say. Things are what you make of them. And because he thinks it might dishearten those who'd planned the event, he'll at the very least try to be a good sport.
In fact, one of those very same staffers leads him by the hand to a cobbled-together obstacle course. The hurdles are brooms taped together, and large, overturned buckets are scattered around the floor, all accompanied with miscellaneous "hazardous" items strewn about.
The staff member reaches into their pocket, fishing out a piece of cloth which they drape across Minato's palm. "Wait right here," they tell him, before disappearing and returning with an unsuspecting victim.
"Devotion's built on trust, you see," they chirp. "What better way to test it by trusting someone to lead you through this course?"
Minato glances at the other Chosen, holding the blindfold out to them. ]
...did you want it?
[ A beat, as he considers their options. ]
Or I can put it on. Doesn't really matter to me either way.
ii. speed dating
[ Sure, it's "speed dating", but Minato's the sort who's accustomed to answering all kinds of bizarre questions. Really, this isn't anything new. Silent protagonist tasked with spending five minutes asking and answering questions? Easy.
He glances down at the laminated sheet of paper. There's a menu of sufficiently invasive questions. Beneath them are a series of more softball ones. His gaze lifts momentarily at his company before lowering again to study the questions. Hm. ]
You can go first.
[ Minato sets the list down on the table before resting his hands in his lap. He wears an indecipherable expression, but in truth, he'll readily answer just about anything that's tossed his way. ]
...you can ask whatever. It's fine.
iii. secret delivery
[ Scavenger hunt, huh. Maybe it really was that big of a hit at the Ketsoran ball?
Hopefully the aftermath of this party will be far less eventful. famous last words
Finally, Minato has the chance to take a better look at the little box he'd been handed upon entering the festivities. It's a little blue box wrapped in gossamer ribbon, a small paper tag attached to it too. Whatever's inside doesn't feel particularly heavy, so surely there's nothing dangerous tucked away in it...
Just in case, he crouches to offer the box to the dog at his heels. Koromaru bends his head to sniff at it twice before making a sharp, confident bark.
Cool, Minato thinks. Probably fine then.
He flips the tag over and silently studies the instructions before scanning the party's attendees. Whatever it happens to say, it matches the description of someone within the crowd. Minato steps forward with Koromaru in tow, the decorative box clutched in his own hand. He weaves through the Chosen milling about, approaching the one who matches his box's tag.
There's no hesitation or bashfulness in his gaze, merely casting an expectant look at the other person. ]
I think this is for you.
[ Minato holds it out. Whatever's in it probably isn't dangerous or life-threatening... Either way, he trusts Koromaru's judgment. ]
iv. wildcard
[ bring ur own prompt babyyyy or if you want something specific just drop me a message! Let's be silly \o/ ]
Edited (I FORGOT KORO-CHAN) 2025-02-10 23:30 (UTC)
Okay, so this was supposed to facilitate meeting new people and what not, but Ryoji isn't gonna complain in sharing more time with his favorite (?) bluehead. He's particularly enthusiastic, wide smiles all around as he swings his legs back and forth.
Now, being a datemaster9000, Ryoji doesn't exactly need the list of guide questions. Still, there's one that stands out, so he figures he could start with that:]
Okay! If your body was a plant, how many times a day would I have to water it?
[Somehow, Vincent always ends up in these weird activities against his will. It's par for the course by now, so he honestly doesn't even fight it so much as he's dragged away for the ... party? Gathering? Honestly hard to tell. Nonetheless, he's going to be the world's biggest wallflower, hanging by a corner. Slowly, he's munching on a bag of some kind of off-brand potato chips that are definitely way too greasy to be that good, but depression is hell of a drug, so. You know.
"This time we'll be doing a guessing game! Time to go into pairs. If you're struggling to find a partner, we'll help you out!" announces one of the organizers.
Vincent feels exhaustion suddenly drowning him in body and soul as he would absolutely prefer not to, but it is what it is. With a sigh, he turns to you.]
Let's just get this over with.
["We'll present a question. One person has to guess what their partner would answer with. If you get it right, you get a point!"
Sounds awful.]
ii. speed dating
[look we all know how this one works. Vincent is seated across, bag of neverending chips in his hand as he slowly munches on one chip at a time, staring blankly at you without a word.
Maybe... he wants you to go first. Possibly. Hard to say.
So what question do you have for this Dracula cosplayer?]
iii. secret secret secret tunnel
Seems like a pain.
[Whether he means to say it to you or the attendant, either way Vincent is being an absolute buzzkill as he stares down at the entrance of the tunnel.
A heavy sigh escapes him. This is utterly exhausting, and he won't lie; it's tempting to just go back to his coffin, which is the feeling he's had for several days now. He's trying to not just go back old habits, but somehow this is the most tiring thing out of the entire event so far.]
[ Enchanter sure is a presence. Not only is he a tall being but he's also wearing a mask, with two horns affixed to it, that has no mouth to speak of and just two golden slits for eyes that move rather oddly like he has full control of them?? Gray hair spills out from beneath it but he's just clad in all-black metal garb hidden beneath black robes that twinkle like starlight. The black is evenly cut with golden divets and ornaments hanging along the horns on his mask. His hands are also black gauntlets but he looks to be amused as hell to be here. ] Speed dating, huh? Oh, right! That is what you humans do when you're lonely and desperate right? [ He just laughs. That's so rude what the hell. ]
What a fun occasion to be dropped into! I love getting to know lonely desperate people. Very well. How does it feel to eat?! [ This is not an appropriate dating question and it's more of him just asking random shit, sorry. ] With those oddly grotesque human mouths of yours I have always wondered! The fact there are bones in there is rather disturbing, but fascinating too!
[ But he seems to 'smile' as the golden slits narrow and he leans on the table while propping his chin on his hand. ] Or better yet! I have another one for you. Are familiar with interstellar travel? Wormholes, rips in the space-time continuum?! Inquiring minds would love to know! And how do you feel about this planet right now!? On a scale of 0-10 please rate your experience thus far! I will not tell the current overlords, I promise! [ Sorry to whoever gets stuck with this stupid ass. ]
Secret tunnel;
[ Again he is just here to mess around and is not taking much of this very seriously because?? Look at him? But that's not enough, oh no, he has to say something out of pocket because The Enchanter does not stfu. ]
Holding hands?! That's what you humans do when you form intimate relationships, correct? I would love to see it happen with my own two eyes! I've never held hands with a human before, how exhilarating!
[ Sir, please. ] I did not realize that experiencing potentially life-threatening scenarios was considered sensual either! [ Enchanter STOP. Anyway, he will hold out a gauntleted hand for whoever to take. ] Put it there!
[ Viktor has been at this speed dating thing for a minute, now, and if he's honest, that seems like a misnomer. It was fine for a while. He was helping! He loves helping! But usually by now the person who gives him the quest tells him what a good job he's done and gives him a cake or a bowl of soup or something. And that has not happened yet. And so, the Enchanter catches him at a particularly existential moment.
"Speed dating?" Haha, more like, Kafkaesque social labyrinth meant to spiral you slowly into total mental exhaustion and despair, am I right?? (Viktor does not know who Kafka is. He thinks it's some goofy clown he had to kill once as part of a dangerous artificial intelligence's efforts to better itself in the interest of becoming the ultimate killing machine. No. Not this AI. A different AI.)
But I digress. He's doing great.
Fantastic, even.
His head bobbles up and down, nodding along with everything the Enchanter says, perfectly attentive, wisteria eyes growing wide, focused, about halfway through what he says. Politely, he waits until Enchanter has finished to respond. ]
What do you mean "worm holes." [ He slaps both hands on the table. ] Are there worms in space? [ There is an edge in his voice, the strain of someone who desperately needs to touch grass. ] Can you use them for fishing?
i. Speed Dating, CYOA Edition [ Welcome to Hell! Several cutscenes will play in sequence! A helpful coordinator has guided Viktor into this seat on the promise that it would really help them out, and now you are the unfortunate soul sat before him for the next five minutes.
He is not terribly good at reading, stumbling over some words and sounding a little under confident, but he is absolutely duty-bound to read these questions in pursuit of human connection. As the event goes on and his social battery starts to drain, his cheerfulness and the threads of his sanity start to wear visibly thin. Just keep smiling, buddy!
Pick your favorite prompt: ]
01. [ It is with a gigawatt smile that Viktor levels this question, plainly delighted by the topic. ] What is your favorite dinosaur?
02. What does your... 401k look like? [ An ugly, immature laugh bubbles out of him. Viktor does not know what a retirement plan is. His retirement plan is death. ] Awfully r-rude first question, aye?
03. Are y-you your conscience? [ Viktor glances up from the paper, trying not to look too much like he would pull someone's smalls over their head if they asked him this question. ]
04. [ Oh, he's excited again. Here's the sort of hard-hitting journalism he can get behind: ] What do you think blue tastes like?
05. [ Viktor's nose wrinkles faintly at this one before he asks it. These words radiate an ominous energy, he is certain. As such, he delivers the question with the gravity he feels it deserves: ] Is cereal a soup?
06. [ Viktor's brows beetle as he stares down at the paper, gripped tight in clenched fists. It shakes slightly from the effort. He cuts his gaze up once, twice, a third time, before breathing a heavy, hopeless sigh. He has the look of a man whose grasp upon reality has become tenuous. ]
I-I do not know how to read this one. [ He turns the paper around slowly to show if off. ] It's just an ink blot.
[ It might be a ketchup stain. ]
ii. 🎵SECRET TUNNEL🎵 [ It says it right there on the tin: Tunnel of Love and Treasure, and so of course Viktor was at the entrance like the snap of a magnet. Hold hands with your dungeon delving buddy? No problem! Viktor scoops up his partner's hand with the confidence of someone for whom personal space is an alien concept and the skill of one well-versed in gentle reassurance in the face of extreme danger.
Upon the first steps into the unsually realistic cave, Viktor sets off like an unleashed dog in a park full of very round squirrels.
He makes it exactly three steps before he realizes that he is, in fact, leashed. To a person. A flicker of annoyance crosses his features before they brighten again. ]
Ah, a bit of a... fun challenge, then!
[ He does a poor job of trying to hide the fact that he's shaking his hand free. When it doesn't work, his brows knit up at the absurdity of the situation. Actually, this could be fun. His gaze flicks from joined hands to his Tunnel Compatriot's face, his wisteria eyes alight with mischief. ]
I hope there are monsters. You can swing me about like a flail, if you'd like.
iii. etc. [ happy to do a specific scavenger hunt, wild card, etc. thread; dm me! ]
[This guy seemed kind of nervous earlier (which they could understand), but now, reading out his question, he seems so serious. Is it really that important a question?
Might as well answer it seriously, just in case]
< Hm... It could be? If you consider soup to be any ingredient in a liquid. But something about that definition doesn't feel right either. >
[Normally during these kinds of festivals, Kotone can be found manning a recruitment booth for Cooking Club or Sewing Club. Not this time, though. This time, while she'll go along easily with whatever the locals ask her to do, smiling all the while, there's a distantness to her. It's a distantness she'd almost forgotten. Smiling through bad situations had once been as natural as breathing to her. When had that changed...?
Still, it's only been a few days! Scott could come back! The fiery bird perched on her shoulder seems equally as sad, but not panicked; Kotone's choosing to believe that's because her boyfriend isn't in any danger, but he's just gone back home, like so many of her other friends. Maybe he'll be back. Maybe he'll even remember her!
Maybe.
For now, she's been roped into helping at the bar in the events center. She's always preferred keeping busy, anyway! She'll just have to inject even more cheer into her voice!]
Hi!! What can I get you?
2. 💖
What's it taste like?
[No, sorry, that's not a question for you, the person who just got sat across from her. Kotone's currently offering one of the question cards up to the bird on her shoulder, clearly expecting her to try to bite it. Phoenix, for her part, looks a little offended, spreading her wings and instead choosing to peck the top of Kotone's head.]
Ow!!
[Deserved, though. As if only just now realizing they have company, Kotone draws up a friendly smile and instead passes the card across.]
Here you go! This one's for you. Describe your perfect day.
3. 🃏
[Wildcard! Want to bring her a truth-trinket gift? Go into the tunnel with her? A secret third thing? This is your space! Kotone is in her Sad Girl Era because Scott Summers is gone for canon update. 😔 Feel free to message me if you'd like to discuss something else!]
[you'll have to look down...down a little farther...that's right, just barely able to look over the counter, it's a very flustered ten(?) year old. he got hassled into this event and he doesn't understand why. does he look dateable???]
Water.
[he says plaintively, finally looking up at her. followed by, with zero irony:]
Hey, aren't you a little young to be running a bar?
[Echo has just taken the seat opposite of you, and barely glances in your direction as she grabs a card. She was shoved into doing whatever this is, and she'd like to get it over with as quickly as possible. Apparently the fact that it's timed doesn't hamper her desire.
She looks at it blankly for a moment, before pulling it closer to her face with a confused frown.]
"What would you say is your type?" This is lacking in crucial details. It will not be possible to answer without specifying what it refers to.
[Yeah, she's, uh... learning. You're sure getting to know what she's like pretty quickly, though!]
B. Secret Delivery
[Once Echo is sure she's found the right recipient, she'll walk up in a very proper manner until she's right in front of you. Her face shows no emotion as she sticks out her arms while clutching the box from under her large sleeves.]
This is for you.
[Her voice is so monotonous that it's hard to know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Only one way to find out?]
-or-
[You may have gotten Echo's package. Might be fun if you'd like to see her get really flustered.]
C. Through the mountain!
[Echo really needs to pay more attention, as she's once again been shoved into an activity by one of the organizers. When it comes to completing the perceived task, you've gotten a good partner. When it comes to conversation, your mileage may vary.
She looks down at your hands and frowns. She's not embarrassed about it, but it's clear she's rather not be in this situation.]
This is...unusual.
D. Wildcard
[Come at me! If you'd like to talk first, you can message and/or add me at kaitodoushi or Discord @ belinsk.]
[it's too bad she didn't look more closely at who she's sitting with, considering it happens to be someone she met recently, if only in a dream. he's dressed differently, wearing a beanie and winter coat, but his face is exactly the same. he regards her with some surprise.]
Echo?
[what a way to meet in the "real" world, over a list of stupid questions.]
Er, given this is supposed to be some kind of date, it probably means what type of person you prefer to spend time with.
I) Speed Dating, except you're trying to rizz Gil. Good luck.
... ....... .................
[ There was a long silence at the table. Theoretically, a minute should have passed, but it hasn't. Well, for the King of Heroes, it doesn't matter. He was here to see if these mongrels were brave enough even to attempt to flirt with him. ]
Mongrel, I have all day. What? Do you want me to go first? I refuse. This is a festival of love. If you do not pull up your courage, how else will you ever find love?
[ The King of Heroes nagged as he flipped through some random magazine. ]
II) Secret Treasure ( Tunnel )
... ...... ...........
[ Well, isn't this quite awkward? Who in the world would want to hold hands with Gilgamesh? Well, now they are forced to. Gilgamesh was only curious because of the word treasure, whatever treasure belonged to him, thus how the Golden King's logic works.
Normally, Gilgamesh would have cut off whoever's mongrel hand off his, but some force was compelling Gilgamesh not to. How bothersome. ]
Let's get this over with mongrel. Let's see if that treasure is worth taking or throwing.
III) Wildcard
(( OOC: Feel free to throw whatever you want at Gil! If you have any questions, you can PM me or contact me on plurk! zasshuu
[Oh of course it just had to be him, huh? He was hoping for a nice gentle beautiful woman, to be paired with - and the chances were pretty high!! - but alas. It had to be public indecency maniac. At least his hands don't feel awful to hold.
Still, maybe he could learn more about this golden-haired king, and what is that if not information? Things might be get interesting.]
Ugh, but walking is such a pain? Why don't you carry me into the tunnel with your big strong arms?
[ All Hakuno knew was that she was looking up something in SE.RA.PH, and before she knew what was happening, she was here in this city. Wandering around the city, Hakuno Kishinami found herself at a bar and saw the tackiest decorations being put up. It seems more like a cheap birthday party than a Valentine's Day party. ]
...this smells like trouble. I should get out of here.
[ Just as Hakuno said, she felt somebody grabbing her arm and dragging her across the room. Before the Master could even get her bearings together, the young girl found herself and a stranger to play some unknown game. ]
II) Speed Dating
... ....... ...........
[ Hakuno sat there. Unfazed. Unmoved. Her expression did not change as she tilted her head at the situation. Was this speed-dating? So, this was a date? Even so, it felt like the timer did not move. It was supposed to be five minutes, yet Hakuno felt like she and the person across from her had been there for over five minutes. ]
So...got any hobbies?
[ Hakuno remembers that she was awful at starting a conversation! ]
III) Wildcard
(( OOC: Feel free to throw whatever! Any questions, please hmu via PM or zasshuu. LOL yes, it is I, the Gilgamesh roleplayer. If you have CR with Gil, he's trying to look for Hakuno(his Master/Mongrel) but failing because by the power of me, I cannot roleplay with myself! So feel free to mingle with Hakuno who is here for this one day and rub it in Gil's face that they met with Hakuno can he can't! ))
[Too bad, Hakuno! You're here now, whether you like it or not. And the one that pulls her arm is none other than one very cheerful Ryoji, smiling like he just got the grand prize. Maybe he did.]
There we go! You're a person with a deadpan expression, riiight?
[It would be such a rude thing to ask if he didn't look so jovial saying it.]
[ during the whole festivities, rogue's been doing her best to keep her spirits up. out of all the holidays, valentine's is the one celebration that aches her in a personal level. it had always been a bittersweet day for her, with it being about love, connection, and for the warmth of another's touch. but for rogue, touch was a curse, a power that could steal life, not give it.
she could feel the energy of others, their emotions, their desires, but she couldn't truly share in them, not without risking their lives. the day is a constant reminder of her isolation, a heavy weight that settled in her heart every time she saw couples holding hands, their love radiating like a beacon during the darkest of nights.
with her head duck low, the mutant walks while gripping onto herself, listening to the laughter of others and the activities being invested in. the woman stumbles across this said tunnel, already making her way in when the attendant flags her down to halt her from going in any further. they clarify that in order for her to travel inside, she must go in with a partner. when she vocalizes she is alone, the escort beams in excitement, and informs her to not fret — for it's their job to find someone for her. rogue parts her lips to protest, but the servant vanishes quickly to start their search, leaving the woman behind to sigh and to lean against an abandon booth, waiting. ]
[ Miller did not mean to come here. In fact, he never meant to attend this celebration at all. Perhaps he'd grown complacent to the fact that the locals tended to leave them to their own devices these days; they haven't seemed fond as of late. Unfortunately for him, this could not be said about the locals who are coordinating the Day of Devotion events.
Contrary to Rogue's predicament, he has no feelings regarding a day intended for romance... Valentine's Day? He supposes that people might have used it as an excuse to buy their loved one gifts back before the war, but it held little significance to him then and even less now. So, his frustration with being dragged into this isn't about that. It's just a waste of his time.
He manages to lose the attendant that dragged him into this mess and plans to make a quick trek out of the danger zone lest he get stopped by another obstacle akin to the frogs from a few months ago. Only this doesn't work out so well — as he's spotted by another eager local in the process and he's now being escorted in front of this gaudy tunnel entrance only to see... ]
Rogue? Shit, they dragged you into this, too?
[ Why does this always happen to the two of them? ]
[ it's tempting to shake the box and hear what's rattling around in there - but vash thankfully restrains himself from all that, instead stepping off to one side out of the way of the people milling around to curiously flip around the small tag attached to the gift and see what's written there - it's a clue to finding who it's for! or so they said ... hopefully it's nothing too difficult to figure out?
it's not a description of their appearance, at any rate - in fact, it doesn't appear to be about anybody in particular at all, just some nonsensical sounding quote, but after reading it over once, and then twice, vash's face lights up immediately.
wherever she is at the current moment, mitsuru would soon hear someone calling her name - ]
Mitsuru! Hello! Over here!!
[ looking on the verge of unkempt as usual, with his flyaway hair in a mess, vash skids to a stop in front of her - barely out of breath despite all the running before he holds out the box to her with a big grin. ]
[Kurt's decided to throw his lot into speed dating. And to put himself even more out there, he's decided to keep the image inducer off - appearing as his ordinary blue fuzzy self. Once paired up with someone, he'll greet them with a wave of his three-fingered hand and a friendly smile.
Whether he knows the person or not, he decides to go right into starting off with a question! He will pick one entirely at random and read it out loud without screening it.]
Which part of my body do you find most attractive? ...Oh, I didn't think that would - no pressure! [He gives a little laugh.]
[Or alternately-]
Why do you think we're here?
B. The Gift That Keeps on Giving
[Kurt puts his teleportation powers to use when it comes to delivering a gift! Once he sees someone who seems to match whatever description he was given, he'll bamf right into their vicinity, accompanied by a puff of smoke.]
Special delivery! ...I think.
[Or seek him out with a present - the description could just be for someone who's looking very blue, or has a tail, or is extra-fuzzy.]
C. Secret Secret Secret Secret
[The Tunnel of Love and Treasure! It looks exciting. He wouldn't mind finding either! When it's clear he's going to be paired with someone, he tries to roll with it and offer an optimistic smile.]
We got this!
[Though he might be more awkward depending on who he's paired with! If it's a stranger or someone unacquainted with his true blue form, he'll flex his fingers for a moment before initiating the hand holding.]
Don't worry, my hand's just a little fuzzy!
[He's dressed casually, so he's not wearing gloves over his hands. At least if he needs to teleport with his partner, this will make that very handy!]
D. Wildcard
[Feel free to come up with an alternate prompt or hit me up for plotting!]
[Look, here she is, just trying to mind her own business, looking at a cafe menu with vague disinterest. It's cold and she'd like to get warm, but the cold also makes her lazier than usual and making any decision feels like too much effort to extend.
So she's woefully unprepared for Kurt's sudden appearance, screaming and jumping out of her daze as he bamfs into view]
[The dreams were trying to tell him something. Or rather—they asked a question. Is it better to keep your memories at the expense of heartache, or to push all of those things away to keep the hurt at bay? Yu thought he knew the answer to that question…at least for himself. The past few weeks have made that tougher, though, and now he…he doesn't know the answer anymore.
(That's not true. He knows. He just doesn't want to admit it.)
He had no plans to attend the party, but somehow he got dragged into it anyway. So, here's another question: is it better to sit out the events, and look like you need attention…or to get involved and blend in?
This is where you come in, because he's seated at the speed dating table, and he has a list of questions in hand. There's something ardent in his expression, like he's really focusing on this particular challenge—giving it all he's got, so to speak. He gives a little nod in greeting, and a smile that doesn't quite make it past his mouth, and he picks a question at random from the list.]
a. If you had to describe yourself as an animal, what would it be? b. What do you like to do? c. Why do… [An uncharacteristic pause, his voice weakening almost imperceptably at the end.] … Why do you think we seek connections? d. [Ah. There's a touch of nostalgia in his expression for a second, here.] Describe the most dramatic love confession you can think of. e. [The BYO question option. Rather than looking at the paper, Yu looks first at you instead.] Do you want to go first?
ii—special delivery
[Okay. This was supposed to be simple. He was supposed to be focusing on a task, and this—has just gotten kind of weird. He looks at the label on the box: deliver this gift to someone whose favorite color you know.
…
Okay. Well. There's only one way to make this happen. Maybe you made eye contact. Maybe you just happen to be close by. Whatever the case, Yu is approaching…but at least he's approaching with a friendly expression?]
Hi there. What's your favorite color?
iii—secret tunnel
[You cannot go into the tunnel alone. This is made very plain by the attendant…who also doesn't seem to want to pair you with someone you might expect. Enter Yu: he was sort of just passing by when the attendant yanks him over by the arm.
"You two! You go together!"
And no amount of protest will calm their insistence that this is the way. Yu looks at the attendant. Then at you. His expression is somewhat apologetic.]
They're really not taking no for an answer, are they…? [He. didn't even want to do the tunnel?? He exhales the most subtle of sighs, and then holds out his hand. It's probably easier if they just do it, right?] Shall we?
wildcard [the usual drill applies! throw something at me or contact me on plurk posolutely if you want to talk through a different starter!]
[It doesn't take his hyper intuition to know that this is probably going to turn into a Conversation at some point. You don't just get to walk away from dreams like that, after all.
But that doesn't mean they also can't delay.]
Uh, well...I'd like to say a Lion, but, I think I've also been compared to a hamster.
[ she gets ushered off to the bar, being a single person. she struggles, but she's tiny and there's no fighting the power of matchmakers seeing a single person ]
[ whether or not you're actually single, she's shoved at you, and has to steady herself against you ]
Ugh! Who do they think they are!?
[ there's an unspoken apology in there, probably ]
ii. a speed date with destiny;
[ meryl doesn't know how she keeps getting roped into these speed dates. this is the fifth one now, and she's here with the pile of questions, looking frustrated and bored and practically vibrating in her seat. ]
[ she looks over at you, across the table, then down at her piece of paper, and and then asks: ]
What is a "soul"?
Eh? That's not a date question...
[ shocking ]
iii. secret tunnel;
[ there really is no relief for meryl when it comes to these valentine day's activities (a holiday that probably doesn't even exist in no man's land) ]
[ she's been shoved into the tunnel by the attendant, and finds herself with one hand glued to yours. ]
[ the other... grips a derringer, though her hands are shaking. seems like this tunnel of love has her on edge. or maybe she's just born like that ]
We need to get out of here. Now. Come on!
[ pls calm down it's a love slash treasure hunting tunnel ]
wildcard;
[ comment here for a custom starter, or hit me with anything!! ]
[ it's a nice idea - devotion. having an entire day dedicated to it is even nicer for vash, even if it does mean that he's been quite full up with all the odd jobs today running around before even the sun was up; deliveries of flowers, little boxes of chocolates and candies, a giant teddy bear that was almost as big as he was (that was a job trying to get it through a doorway without knocking over anything), not to mention helping out at the tea shop where he'd been temporarily promoted to serving (with a neat apron on!!) instead of washing the dishes out the back in the kitchens.
anyway, it's good to be busy, and even better to see everyone having fun showing their appreciation for each other - even if it's playing hell on his back by the early afternoon of his shift.
vash is out by the front of the shop, precariously balanced on a short ladder as he fixes up the floral decoration hung above the signage. some of the flowers have wilted already, so he's in the process of pulling them out and trying to tuck another bunch of roses in their place - don't report him to the OSHA though, even if vash is literally tilting on the tip of his toes on one foot as he strains to get the flowers wedged into the right place. ]
[There's a party and when there's a party? There's drinking involved. Chuuya Nakahara has NO intentions on playing these lovey dovey games (so he thinks). He's here for another kind. The kind that requires a bar and a determination to sample every damn wine this place has to offer like the connoisseur he is.]
I'll have the... You & Mes Rosé.
[It's time to straight up leisure and judge watch all the arrivals while waiting for his drink! He does so by swiveling his stool around, back leaned back into the counter as if he owns it. ]
Do they really think any of this actually works in fooling anyone?
ii. secret delivery, but...
Seriously? You can't deliver this yourself?? Oiー don't walk away from me! Take this damn thing with you! I'm not your messenger!!
[And yet, here he is with this boxーbrown and white in a way that reminds him of coffee with too much cream and a blue ribbon to complement it. Or it's supposed to, but all it reminds Chuuya of is someone he absolutely doesn't want to think of while trying to enjoy this event.
Still, even the method of making him play delivery boy makes his expression sour. Blue and brown eyes glare with purpose to get this over with. A violent shake (or three) follows to determine whatever's inside is of significant weight before he reads the message knocked loose from said shaking.]
Let's get this over with...
[Chuuya plays the role of delivery boy well, at least. It doesn't take him long to find the one benefiting the description. But his manners could use some work and his approach is nothing warm in a way this event should be. He wants it to be done with. He doubts it'll be that simple as he reaches out to tap them on the shoulder.]
Looks like this is for you.
iii. secret tunnel
I don't trust this for a second.
[Chuuya scrutinizes the entrance in a way that brokers the question: what're you gonna do if I don't follow the rules? It's as if this place knows he's going to try to go in by himself because the next moment one of the nearby attendants has no qualm dragging him off towards another lingering participant. A victim!
"You two can go in together~!" they say in the middle of intertwining fingers together so he's now holding hands with another Chosen .]
Ha...? HAHHHH?!
[It's automatic, the way he tries to let go of the hand he holds, but it doesn't work. Like the gravity here is set to work against them. He's left to process this as they're both ushered towards the entrance to "get started on their journey!" and all but shoved encouraging into the mouth of it! ]
iv. wildcard
(Comment here/send me a DM for a custom post or just hit me with whatcha got! & feel free to poke me at khaenriah if that's easier! ♥︎ )
[Morph has also made a beeline for the bar, because what else is there to do at a party like this but go for the food and drinks? The one person they'd want to hang out with probably wouldn't step foot in this place if his life depended on it. Still, they had dressed up a little anyway in a corset vest and slacks, only to find when they arrived that the locals hadn't been going for fancy when they put the thing together.]
What, do you mean all the paper cut-outs? This place has a smaller budget than my high school prom did. And that equaled to a lot more hormones and awkwardness in the air than any real romance.
[Morph had just been intending on grabbing a beer, but the cocktail menu is interesting. Aside from the silly names, there's some combinations in there they didn't think a regular person would ever think of.]
[ Getting unceremoniously nabbed off of the streets while minding his own business is already alarming enough, but to then be forced into a party all about coupling people up and have his every half-stammered polite protest go completely ignored makes it doubly so. Between his own mindfulness of his manners and the insistent hands of a coordinator, Yuta stands little chance of making a swift escape and his feeble attempts to make one fail. It means that by the time he's dragged across the room towards the dance floor where he's all but shoved into the arms of a random Chosen, he is thoroughly frazzled.
Unfortunately for everyone involved, his other half has taken note of his growing distress and decided to intervene on his behalf. ]
H̴A̴N̵D̴S̷ ̷O̴F̶F̵ ̷Y̸U̶T̴A̸!̶
[ The dissonant voice originates from a half-manifested apparition emerging behind Yuta, looming forward threateningly. Everything else — mainly the flustered apology he'd been in the middle of uttering — is momentarily forgotten by Yuta as he hurriedly twists around to assuage the figure's ire. ]
Don't, Rika! It's fine, we're just playing.
[ His words keep her from leaning in and reaching out to enact harm, but she very much stays where she is, exuding deep displeasure despite the lack of clear facial features.
Satisfied with that for now, Yuta is glancing back to his supposed-to-be dance partner, letting out a sheepish titter of a laugh. He's operating under the assumption that Rika is not audible or visible to most (she very much is) and that he just looked like a crazy fool shouting at nothing in particular. Feeling suitably embarrassed, wanting nothing more than the floor to swallow him up, he offers a chagrined: ]
Sorry about that.
02 ▸ SPEED DATE
[ Having (gently) wrested both Rika and his own embarrassment under firm control, Yuta has resigned himself to just playing along. If nothing else, perhaps some friendships can be forged in the forced awkwardness of this whole ordeal. That will make it worth it. Probably. So he's let himself be ushered into a seat without complaint and will have a polite greeting and introduction ready for anyone joining him; soft words accompanied by a smile that would look a lot brighter if it wasn't offset by the notable dark circles under his eyes. (Although they're not as notable as the scar of stitches running along his forehead. How strange.)
He'll grab a card readily enough to start them off. ]
What is a person? Is it the mind or body?
[ Reading aloud, his eyes squint the more he reads, growing confusion culminating in a curious tilt of his head. ]
What about the soul...? [ A mutter, almost more to himself, before he snaps back to the real issue at hand. ] Ah- wait, isn't this kind of question too heavy for this setting?
[ Is it normal to get so philosophical on a (speed) date? He has no clue and it shows. ]
03 ▸ SECRET TUNNEL
[ It's his own fault for wandering close to the love tunnel in his curiosity and believing that slipping his wedding band on his left hand would serve as a deterrent to all the overenthusiastic match-making when he obviously looks way too young to be married. His ploy doesn't work and neither does his attempt at excusing himself. Both to be expected at this point, really. This attendant doesn't seem as forceful as others, but it's her sheer sweet earnestness that has him buckling once she's gotten another person involved and insists they go in hand-in-hand together. ]
They sure are persistent, haha.
[ Wry and apologetic, he relents and holds out his hand. Don't mind the oppressive creepy aura about him or how it gets stronger once his hand is taken. His presence might fail all vibe checks, but at least he seems friendly enough?? ]
We could make it quick?
04 ▸ WILDCARD
[ feel free to hit me with whatever or lemme know if you want a custom starter! ]
[well, shoved into someone's arms is a little...off. more like shoved in someone's personal space, that person being a boy who appears to be about ten years old. he seems just as frazzled as yuta - he's been trying to escape this stupid party after being dragged in and just can't seem to get away. what exactly about him makes these stupid NPCs think he's dateable, anyway?!
regardless, czeslaw merely takes a step back so they're not in each other's personal bubbles anymore - until rika pops out. his mouth opens in a silent scream but no sound leaves his mouth, he's that stunned. WHAT is with this place and freaking MONSTERS??? he points silently at rika, a terrified look on his face.]
[Fandaniel arrives at the party the moment he knows it is happening, figuring an event like this could use his style and flare. When people start pairing up, however, he grimaces and withdraws to the refreshment table. He isn't interested in a partner or a lover but he needs someone to properly set the mood. Why hasn't anyone picked him yet?
Deciding to take matters into his own hands, he whirls in place, locks eyes on the first person he sees, and crows]
Could it be? Are you here at last? Are you...my Valentine!?
ii. Speed Dating
[Fandaniel sits back in his seat and fans himself with the list of questions.]
You should know they claim these little meetings last only a couple minutes but I would swear they are much longer. Well! Nothing to do about it, I suppose...
I'll start us out...
Ahem.
[He smooths the list out and starts reading.]
ii.a "When did you know you were in love with me?" [He glances up and bats his eyelashes.] ii.b "What is a person? Is it the mind or body?" [Here he snorts and stares at the paper a moment longer.] 'Tis the mind, of course. Imagine being foolish enough to think otherwise. ii.c "What is your favorite geological period of the Paleozoic Era?" [A slow blink.] Huh? ii.d "If you could be an animal, what would you be?" [He looks up, considers the question a moment, then...] I'd be a stingray. ii.e "Why do you think we're here?" [A sharp giggle.] Ahahaha! Because we were abducted by a foolish machine! ...You don't suppose they were seeking a more spiritual answer, do you?
iii. Tunnel of Love
[Fandaniel doesn't care much who he is paired with. When the attendant picks his partner he smiles a gleaming smile and holds out his hand.]
[ getting to the party wasn’t the problem. the problem’s being pushed around every so often, being told what to do and who to stand next to, and she’s about ready to start kicking some shins.
when she’s seated, haruhi almost immediately takes note of all of the questions and mentally checks off which ones she finds boring one by one by one. which is, basically all of the romantic questions and some of the less romantic questions. ultimately, she just forgoes the list and comes up with her own questions. ]
-If you were replaced by a body double, how would you try to convince everyone that you’re the real thing?
[ you know. normal. ]
-What’s the name of your desperation attack? Oh, if you don’t have one, what would it be if you did?
[ very normal. ]
-Alright, alright. How about this? When you close your eyes and think of someone or something, what’s the first thing you think of?
ii. scavenged
[ congrats! be it her long brown hair, her yellow ribbon, or the fact that she had just passed by, haruhi’s been gifted a box! it’s all a lot from the jump, but she’s willing to open it up and see what she’s won.
it’s… strange. it’s a pin in the shape of a tanzaku, the kind that'd be hung up for Tanabata. she pins it to the collar of her shirt, trying to get a good glimpse of it. ]
Hmm. It should be something closer to Valentine's Day or Setsubun... I guess this is good too.
iii. travel buddies
[ congrats! you've been paired with haruhi to explore the tunnel! holding hands is just a part of it, so she's not at all fazed by the idea of keeping a hold on someone and dragging them through.
which is a problem when she stops to glimpse anywhere that seems suspicious, like something that could be hiding in a secluded area. she might knock on the wall or the ground with her free hand, murmuring in thought. ]
That's weird. Usually there's some kinda indication of where it is. Do you see any arrows or an "x" anywhere?
iv. wildcard
[ i am extremely flexible and this is fun as hell. feel free to add anything or ask her a question of your own for speed dating! if you have questions of your own for me, send me a message here or on discord! ]
[Kagami is happy to let Haruhi take the lead. He's in no rush and he wants to see how she handles this. Holding hands is unexpected, but he's fine with it and follows her lazily.]
An "x"? [He smiles and tries not to laugh.] You know that's only in fiction, silly!
Kuwabara's not particularly fussed about being strongly urged into a party, and he doesn't even mind the theming or how cheesy everything is. He is, after all, kinda a cheesy guy himself, never mind that he'd deny the accusation if it was leveled at him.
The issue's that the folks running the show stay pushy once he's inside, and he's definitely not the only one. It seems like anyone alone for five minutes gets bumped somebody else's way, and that does start to get annoying after a while. Eventually, he starts to try and argue against it.
"Hey, hey! Lay off! I'm already interested in somebody, so--!"
Alas, his grumbles go unheeded as he's plunked near a game table. Cards and dice are general enough, but he doesn't recognize any of the boxed games. Obliviously, someone else has been plunked here with him. He looks from the games to his supposed new pal, then sits heavily in the nearest chair.
"You got a preference? I don't know any of these. I think they might've made 'em up."
2. (Speed) Date with Destiny
Speed dating is a new concept to Kuwabara, who's not practically well-versed in regular dating to begin with. At least it's quick, and he's socially polished enough to maintain a few minutes worth of conversation.
Everybody gets a brief, to-the-point introduction, "Hey. I'm Kuwabara."
The questions are a little much, right? So he'll make attempts to survive purely on small talk.
3. Secret Delivery
They can claim this isn't an errand, but it's an errand. Don't scavenger hunts have you looking for stuff? This is making a delivery with only vague instructions!
The instructions on his box don't even have a physical description or an action. He's got to stop people and ask, over and over again, "Hey, you got a summer birthday?"
4. Wildcard
(( Toss up another scenario and/or hit me up at amyorama, which is also my user name on discord if you prefer that! PMs also cool!! ))
It's half a fluke that Kuwabara winds up in the "secret tunnel" with Kurama. They'd been chatting and wandering up to it, and peeping the anomaly of it all had seen them encouraged inside. The hand-holding's a little weird, and he tries to opt for an arm slung over Kurama's shoulders instead, but... Nope. Hand-holding.
It's weirder when we they can't ditch the concept once they're out of the attendant's sight, but the weirdness does wear off eventually as they shuffle through conducting the most idle treasure hunt against conversation about how this cave should totally be impossible, right? And all there is at the end is a guy with a guitar and a cheesy line.
Lame.
He tries to release Kurama once more as they near the cave's entrance, but it's apparently a no-go even after their successful treasure-of-wisdom acquisition. What, does the attendant have to give them permission to let go? Geez...
"No offense, man, but we better not be stuck stuck. That'd be pretty inconvenient."
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