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Who: YOU, MY FRIEND & The friendly staff of Thistle Do Nicely, a humble flower shop.
When: IC: 29th January to February 14th (OOC: Starts 3rd July, full month log.)
Where: Thistle Do Nicely, Shopping District.
What: It's nearly Valentine's Day, so there's sales and events! Want to learn how to make chocolate? Look here! Cashing in your coupon for the upcoming Blind Date player event? That's here too! This is a mingle log, so everyone come mingle to your hearts content, and come in anytime, there's no such thing as late.
Rating/Warning: Nothing so far. There might be some future nightmares.

NOTE: There are some forward-dated prompts/part of prompts in this log. This is to coincide with the Blind Date Player Plot this month! More links and updates will be posted here once they come up.

Also if you wanna know how this works, it's just a mingle! An example here, our previous open mingle log. Treat it however you like, open and closed options welcome.

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Welcome to Thistle Do Nicely! Make yourself comfortable and browse the grand selection. In spirit of upcoming Valentine's Day, the store is decorated in pink and red, hearts scattered here and there. Sweet soft toys are on display, and there are bargains to be found. The tea shop is also decked out, but there seems to be something extra special happening on that side too.

A: ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE DISCOUNTED

[Are you here for the flowers? Sure you are, it's a grand tradition that all Valentines must share: the giving of flowers to loved ones. Roses are a definite favourite, but maybe you're after something more unique? Then look no further! Ask one of your friendly staff about it. Or maybe they're coming to you! But if they do, some may have the misfortunate of being told by the mysterious NPC boss to repeat the following: "What can Cupid's assistant do for you today?" Yeah, it's pretty embarrassing.

Or maybe you've bumped into a friend! In that case, buying flowers for Valentine's Day? Are you proud of this, or are you so embarrassed you must hide all evidence.

Alternatively, time has passed and you're now here because you have coupons for an additional price cut on your flowers if you are taking part in the Blind Date event. Blind dates can be particularly nerve-wracking, so let this store make things a little easier for you. You'll thank them for it.]

B: ANYONE WHO HATES CHOCOLATE IS A MONSTER (no we're kidding we still love you)

B.1: KITCHEN NIGHTMARES

[In all walks of life, chocolate is a very popular gift for Valentine's Day. And in some places, even more importance is placed on whether it's homemade or not. A section of the tea shop has been cleared just for this: earthy tables now have small stoves on them and ingredients set out. It's time to learn how to make chocolate. These classes are lead by head chef Shokudaikiri Mitsutada and his (reluctant) chef's assistant Ookurikara, but you can be sure that all the other reliable staff of Thistle Do Nicely are getting in on the action to help out (or learn themselves) too! Maybe Mitsutada and a handful of staff will make this great. The other half...

Everyone interested in these classes will gather round each of these tables, and together you will learn how to make chocolate. It's a team effort, so discuss with each other and work together to perfect it! In the end, you will be given cute little boxes or bags to put your chocolate in so you can give it to those intended. Or yourself, you can eat them too. Alternatively, you were forced into this mess, or have no idea why you're here but you're going to roll with it because it's chocolate.

The classes are free, happening a couple hours a day, but the ingredients require a small donation to keep the classes going. These classes are ongoing, so by the time you've gotten your Blind Date, you don't have to donate if you show them your coupon.]

B.2 CHOCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

[Or maybe you're not here for the classes, you're spending time on the other half of the tea shop where it's still set for customers. The tea shop half of the entire store is not actually that big, so you might be finding it a bit cramped.

That being said, a treats bar has been set out as a complimentary offer. There's a chocolate fountain in the middle of this bar, and you know you wanna dip some heart shaped marshmallows or fruits in that sucker. There's also these flower shaped gummies. No one actually knows how they got there, but maybe for the sake of science, you want to coat it with chocolate and eat it.

Do it.]

C: WILDCARD.

[Because there's so much more to explore! Or maybe you're just here to visit and laugh at them. Or maybe you wanna use the tea space as a PLACE FOR A DATE, AYYYYYY in which the scene from Lady and the Tramp could happen and there will be a cute musical number (look, I'll have it arranged, I'm not even kidding. Too bad I can't get an Okiayu character to do it though, you might have to make do with a loser girl). Or maybe you've MESSED UP THIS ENTIRE PLACE Vietnam will kill you with her bare hands (unless she likes you, then you will live).]

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Maybe. [ Num num num. By themselves, the gummy flowers actually tasted alright--- straight up sugar, but with floral and wooden notes. They were probably placed as palate cleansers more than anything, especially when faced with fruit and chocolate.

As he eyes the tofu, he lights up. That's a familiar food. He fights the temptation to just go right into the bag and eat some... neutral flavors will save him today. ]

Ah. It's nice to meet you, Nanoha-san. I am Kogitsunemaru. [ The fox sword bows slightly. ]

[ Kogitsunemaru. Was he called kitsune because of his silly fox hair, or did he purposely grow silly fox hair because he was called kitsune? He was also not at all little, so the "ko" was entirely out of place. Actually, in the first place, was that a name anyone would use for their children?

Nanoha looked at Kogi, then at the sword hanging from his side, then back at Kogi again. ]

Are you a sword spirit? [ That would be the fourth she's met, and she seems to be recognising a pattern.

Either way, she's going to head into the big communal kitchen with ingredients in hand, ready to show off her cooking. ]

[ Yes, Nanoha, to all of those. Her sudden recognition of what he is does not surprise him, given how many of them there are!--- though, slightly fewer than when he arrived not too long ago. ]

Yes, I am. [ He'll smile, amused, then again carrying a sword around tended to draw a bit of attention. ] Have you've met some of us already? And if so, who?

[ He'll follow her into the kitchen. If she can do the things and make tasty treats, then she's the best!...

... for today, anyway. ]

Let's see, Sayo-kun, Hotarumaru-kun, and Kousetsu-san. Two of them are called Samonji, but are they actually brothers or is that just part of the sword-smith's signature? [ She's thinking out loud here. She's also handled two of their true forms, which is probably a bigger deal than she knows, especially since she's not typically a sword-handling type. In all senses of the phrase.

Claiming part of the kitchen for herself, Nanoha finally unpacks the ingredients she bought. Tofu, espresso powder, cayenne powder, cinnamon, eggs, and ginger. Chocolate, flour, and oil were provided so she's snapped some of those up along the way too.

She just going to follow this recipe here. ]

[ He's pleasantly surprised by the list of names, each of them making him react with the biggest of smiles. The little fox watches the ingredients, blinking a few times at the number of them, as if he is trying to remember all of them for future knowledge. ]

Ah, you have met two of the Samonjis and the little devil himself. I'm sure they were all kind to you.

[ With wide eyes, he'll stare and watch Nanoha as she prepares and fixes the food. Ooh! ]

I wouldn't call Hotarumaru a devil. He was a real sweetheart. They all were.

[ Not even the most gloomy Samonji pair could be free of the White Devil. And technically she was the one who helped out the Samonjis, but she didn't keep track of things like that. ]

And you're very kind too.

[ If terrible at food. ]

[ He chuckles and smirks, sitting down and resting his chin in his hands, propping them up using his elbows. ] You've never had to duel him. He's one of the most ferocious in our ranks, as of now.

And thank you. [ He nods politely and very seriously compared to his overall behavior before. ] We all try to represent our master as best as we can. He cannot watch over us all of the time as we're not all in a citadel together.

[ And a smile, because... hey, he tries to be kind. He's a good little fox, after all. He'll get better at food later. ]

I may have to go duel him, then. [ She says it completely casually, because of course she would try to fight a strong boy. What else are you supposed to do with that information? Not rise to the challenge? ]

So you all belong to one person, then? I suppose as swords it's only natural to have a master. [ It just never crossed her mind because they certainly don't look like swords. ] I wonder what Raising Heart would look like if she had a human form?

I am sure I would resemble Master, we are perfectly suited for each other after all. [ That's Raising Heart, currently a small red gem hanging around her neck, talking. ]

I'd tell you to be careful, but a part of me says you both should be cautious of each other. [ Anyone who looks forward to fighting a spirit, especially one who can cleave some of the strongest opponents of the touken danshi into pieces with one swing, must be a pretty strong one. Kogitsunemaru may love a fight, but he's not one to go into one like an idiot.

Unless it involves food, and then... that's a different fight all together. ]

... your gem spoke. [ Stating the obvious, but he needs to hear himself say it. After all, this place is crazy weird, so it's like a confirmation. Sort of. ]

Don't worry, I always make sure to do things safely when I spar. There's no point getting yourself hurt over a little match, it's not a fight with something important on the line after all. [ During those important fights, she was quite happily incredibly reckless. ]

So it did! This is Raising Heart, my partner. It becomes my staff when I fight, so I suppose it's another talking weapon? [ Although as far as Nanoha knew, sword-men couldn't talk when they were in their "true" sword forms.

So maybe they weren't really talking weapons. ]

Your partner? I see. That's different compared to our master and ourselves. We're usually not wielded by others, we fight using our true selves. [ It's a very specific type comfort level of knowing the weapon perfectly when you are the weapon. ]

So in a way, I'm already a talking weapon. [ He smirks, pausing to brush some of his hair out of his face and off to the side. ] Though unlike yours, I am a spirit.

[ A very nice spirit who doesn't know how to food. ]

A sword who wields himself? That's new. [ Nanoha nods and doesn't question further. It's obvious kami were strange things.

Although normally when men say they're wielding their sword that is also part of themselves, they mean something completely different from fighting. Completely. ]

Well, you're a very polite spirit. I'm almost done, by the way.

[ ... that is the path of destruction, Nanoha. Steer clear of the waggling swords. ]

Oh? Oh! [ It's like his little hairears perk up at the idea of nearly completed food. He almost forgot about it, mainly because talking about other things. ]

... so does your Raising Heart do anything else other than become your weapon? [ Might as well get another question in before he immerses himself in heavenly tofu. ]

My Raising Heart is my partner! It's fully intelligent, even if it doesn't say much, and between an AI and processing my magic, it's also a fully functional computer. It does everything the CEREVice does except connect to the network and more! [ She's very proud of her partner, she really is. ]

Now then! [ She removes the tofu from the heat and sprinkles the chocolate mixture over it, plating the strange desert mix with slight flourish. ] It's done!

[ She certainly sounds enthusiastic enough, so he'll nod through all of those words. He recognizes CEREVice at least, so if that's any comparison, then he's super jealous his can't become a weapon... but he's already a weapon, so no problem.

Kogi's eyes fall upon the fancy tofu dessert and oh my GOD HE WANTS TO JUMP RIGHT IN but it's hot and burned lips suck, so he sits impatiently. ]

It looks amazing, Nanoha-san!

[ She'll definitely take the praise, beaming with pride. She definitely enjoys her cooking, and all cooks look forward to people enjoying what they make. ]

Heheh, thanks! Wait another thirty seconds and it should be cooled down enough to eat!

[ Aw... that's like, forever. The frowniest of faces! So he'll count down. One, two, all the way to thirty before he takes a picks at it with a pair of chopsticks pulled out of his yellow haori.

Why does he have some in there? It's a mystery, except not, because he uses them to sneak snacks during his work. Thank goodness the tofu is in bite sized pieces, so it's easy to take the closest piece and nom it. ]

Oooh. [ It's... really good, though it's not surprising. ]

[ Why does he have chopsticks stashed away in his clothes? Then again, he did have tofu stuck in there too, so maybe Nanoha should be more surprised at that. She'd always known that there were hilariously wealthy people who carries personal utensils around with them, but she had never met one before.

Swords were weird. ]

I'm quite proud of it! [ And she pops one into her mouth with a provided fork. ] You could probably make it yourself next time, it's not difficult!

[ Or maybe Kogi was actually hopeless in the kitchen. Maybe. ]

[ Simply put, when there's no time to learn common sensibilities and habits of humans, you do things your own way--- and this is exactly what Kogitsunemaru does. It's not like it's hard to carry around chopsticks, especially when you work at a restaurant. ]

Maybe I'll try it myself back at home, though you made it look very easy. [ The last thing he needs is to be seen on the Network as being someone who burned down an entire apartment building or caused a terrible chocolate-tofu accident.

He's only slightly hopeless. ]

I'll send you the recipe! Raising Heart, take care of it! [ And it should arrive in Kogi's CEREVice in a moment, because Raising Heart is nothing if not convenient, and efficient. Eat your heart out, Siri.

Now go burn Swordhaus down and put it on the network. It'll be funny.

Maybe. Probably. ]

[ Beep beep, buzz. Yep, looks like he has it for future reference! He won't look at it because he knows she sent it. Isn't technology amazing?

Kogitsunemaru will take another piece and nom it. It's very tasty. He might even take some back and share it whoever is home. ]

Thank you again, Nanoha-san and... Heart-san? [ How does one even address a robot? Oh well, she has a name, right? ]

You're more than welcome, Kogitsunemaru-kun. [ He was a large man... sword... but somehow Kogi reminded Nanoha of a boy. So "-kun" it was. ]

I think if you want to abbreviate Raising Heart's name, RH is best. Heart is good too, but we know another Device called "Sacred Heart," so it might get confusing.

Well then, it looks like my work here is done! [ She's not actually here for work, she just wanted to watch people make chocolates and get ready for dates because that was better than TV. ]

[ He'll nod and take yet another piece of tofu for quick consumption. ]

Alright then. Take care, Nanoha and RH. Please be careful out there. [ He's already experienced enough random misfortune from the Cerealian system, so it feels appropriate to show concern regardless of the situation. ]

You too, Kogitsunemaru-kun. I'm sure I'll see you around. [ Satisfied with the results, Nanoha's just about ready to pack up and leave.

Which she does. Assuming Kogi doesn't have any last words. ]

[ He's got nothing, only a wave and a smile as he takes another bite of the delicious tofu dessert.

May his apartment never burn down. ]

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