estoria | ( open )

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).]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Kaoru's mental image of Yang is so weird right now, but not entirely inaccurate. A colorful bruiser...]

That shouldn't be too difficult. Does she like warmer colors?

[...That's sounding pretty on point, to be honest.]

Yeah-- [They suit her, he thinks.]

In that case, might I suggest the amaryllis and snapdragon? Since the flowers are red, you could supplement them with yellow and orange ribbons.

[A BOUQUET THE COLOR OF FIRE.]

[Naoki takes a moment to picture it... and then he grins. FIRE FLOWERS.]

Sounds like it'll be pretty fiery, huh?

[WHAT A GREAT DUO this nerd, getting Yang fire flowers...]

It sounds a suiting match for the person you're creating it for.

Yep.

[And while he mulls over fire flowers for Yang, he'll switch the topic to something less him-centered...] So, what're you doing here today?

Ah, I've never heard of this holiday before, but it seems very popular. I wanted to learn a little more about it, that's all.

[A smile! It's been a pretty hilarious adventure so far, honestly.]

The spirit of the holiday itself seems very sweet, at least.

[Watching all these losers. With their love. Pfff.]

Yeah, pretty much. Usually, it's the girls giving chocolates on Valentine's Day, and then White Day is when guys give gifts back, but...

[He shrugs a shoulder. GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN and he's pretty sure if Yang doesn't have Christmas in her world, she might not have Valentine's Day. Maybe.]

[TRULY what silly silly humans... And non-humans who are just as silly.]

Ah? I've never heard of White Day, either. That sounds a little complicated. Why not just celebrate both in one day?

[?!? Why you gotta make this so complex, future!!]

That's an excellent question.

[Implying, naturally, that he in no way, shape or form can answer it... well, except for that always right answer of COMMERCIALISM.]

...I think the chocolate companies made it as a response to Valentine's Day, or something like that. [Yes, commercialism.]

[Ah, commercialism. Kaoru is starting to feel like it's the backbone of the future...]

Companies can simply make holidays?

[WHAT A SHOCK.]

[Well... it's not wrong to call it the backbone of the future...]

Apparently so. Guess people just liked the idea a lot.

Are there any other holidays like that?

[If people can just make new ones up for no reason other than "it's neat", Kaoru's imagining a lot of weird stuff pops up...]

Hm--

[Naoki tips his head a bit in thought.] Right off hand, I don't think so... Some holidays incorporate stuff companies came up with in 'em, but White Day is the only one I can think of actually made like that.

Ah... So the practice isn't very wide-spread?

[Nodding along! Kaoru learns new things about the future every day. What a weird place...]

If I may ask, what would you consider the best holiday?

Not where I live, anyway.

[Who knows about other countries, people are weird--]

But my favourite, huh... Probably the New Year.

[People are weird. That's kind of a surprising answer, though! With all of the bells and whistles that come along with other holidays (by the sounds of things, anyway, since the only versions Kaoru has direct experience with are murderous ones thanks santa), a different answer had been expected.]

Is that so? I don't mind it, myself. It wasn't quite the same here as it was back home...

[AN UNDERSTATEMENT.]

...Definitely not.

[But they don't seem to know how holidays are supposed to properly work, so there's that. Naoki folds his arms, thinking or remembering.] Back home, I'd go to the shrine every New Year.

[They need to stop trying, gosh. Stop! Just stop, CERES!!]

So that custom is still in place? [A small smile!] So many other things have changed that I'm hesitant to assume what is or isn't the same. It's nice to hear that, though. Do they still have the New Year's banquets?

Edited (that was not the icon i was aiming for...) 2015-07-22 11:27 (UTC)

Some places still have 'em, yeah, though I can't say I've ever been to one.

[Because he's secretly a homebody and likes doing quieter stuff like going to the shrine and then going back home to eat the traditional New Years foods.]

[Gosh, Naoki, get out more!! Socialize with fellow demons...]

They were always a little ostentatious, to be honest. I'm surprised that the custom hasn't died out yet with many of the other more excessive ones.

Well, our country's got a fondness for tradition.

[Even with how modern things have gotten, there's still plenty of tradition still around...]

So that much hasn't changed, either.

[It's said with a little hint of laughter, even though Kaoru's internally like of fuckin course not ugh.]

Well, one could say that tradition has its charm, if nothing else.

[There there don't feel too bitter Kaoru the guy you're talkin to will be able to feel it...]

Yeah, if nothing else.

[HIS HEART IS THE SALTY SPITOON, HE CAN'T CONTAIN HIS BITTERNESS.]

Ah, well. [A sloping shrug!] ...I didn't mean to distract you for so long! My... I'll let you get back to your shopping, sir.

(no subject)

masakados - 2015-07-27 12:38 (UTC) - Expand

souredsweet - 2015-07-28 06:31 (UTC) - Expand