( open )

[hoasen]

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.

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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).]

Comments

[aslyfox]

[ Silly sword. He forgot to introduce himself to the lovestricken man, so he will finally do so--- taking his eyes off the flowers. He's seen enough of them for a while, anyway. ]

Where are my manners? We've been speaking for some time and yet I don't know your name! I am Kogitsunemaru. [ He'll bow politely, his little fox ear-esque hair tufts twitching. ]

[snakebait]

Oh, right. I'm Hirari. And the woman of my dreams is Botan.

[ Very Important. ]

If you hit on her you'll be in trouble.

[aslyfox]

[ He puts his hands up defensively. Whoa, Hirari! Whoooooa! ]

It's hard to hit someone who I've never met, Hirari-san.

[ It's true! ]

[snakebait]

Not when she's that beautiful.

[ Still though. ]

Don't hit on her. She has a husband.

[aslyfox]

[ Uhhhh... okay! Well, that's nice to know, because Kogitsunemaru is a PURE AND KIND SWORD SPIRIT WHO WOULD NEVER MACK ON ANOTHER MAN'S LADY. ]

... is that you?

[ Enjoy the blankest stare he's ever made. ]

[snakebait]

Yes, it is. Well, not legally, but she will be, one day.

[ So they're not really married yet, they're just very much extremely in love. ]

[aslyfox]

[ He shrugs, lowering his head to press his nose against one of the bouquets of some blue tulips. ]

It sounds like you have very lovely plans for the future. I wish I could be as secure as you are!

[ He's sincere. This place is really strange, after all, and noticing that some of his allies have disappeared (and some reappearing, himself included) gives him many hesitations. ]

[snakebait]

That's about the one thing that makes me secure. I'm not much without her.

[ Hirari decides that he will go with as many shades and types as possible, and um... ]

Am I supposed to just pick them and go with them to the register?

[aslyfox]

[ Oh. OH. Uh... hm. Right. ]

I mean, it's not like you can just take them and leave without paying. Do you need help taking them to the counter?

[ If that's what Hirari is doing, Kogi will help. It'd take him a while if he did it alone, so the power of teamwork would make this job a very easy one. ]

[snakebait]

[ Well, it was either bring them there or wait for someone working there in case that's how the store worked. He wouldn't steal from them, he hadn't done anything like that since he was adopted into the Abe family.

He starts to pick up flowers, a few of every shade of pinks and purples. ]

Yeah, probably. I want a lot of them.

[aslyfox]

[ With a nod, he also starts to gather different varieties of flowers of similar colors, trying to pick out some that are different than what Hirari is choosing. Variety is important, so his eyes keep flickering back and forth to make sure he's not getting too many duplicates... ]

I hope Botan-san likes these. [ Given how many flowers Hirari wants, he's sure that the other man knows that Botan will. Besides, given what he knows how, they must be very compatible. ]

[snakebait]

[ The smile on his face turns sheepish, but very happy. ] I hope so too. She's very important.

[ The most important in the world. ]

[aslyfox]

[ Hirari's happiness makes him smile too. It's nice to see a genuine sense of cheer in others... to be honest, it feels like it doesn't happen enough. ]

Then I hope when she sees all the flowers, you'll remember to say it with them!

[ But of course Hirari would. Just a reminder, though he probably doesn't need one, hm? ]

[snakebait]

[ Had he never met Botan, his life would have been a lot darker for sure. He never smiled before he met her, she reminded him that he was a real person, despite what his adoptive family told him. ]

I will. I'm going to say it to her every day.

[ Considering what he's planning to do when she's seen the flowers... He blushes at the thought of it. ]

[aslyfox]

[ Oh... that's so romantic! All he can do is nod and grin again, looking down at the armful of flowers he holds and looks toward the register. ]

Let me go take those over and I'll grab some more, if you'd like? [ He's holding an armful of numerous pink and violet blooms, looking like he belongs among the flowers. ]

[snakebait]

[ With only one arm, Hirari can't hold as many, so he nods at that. He should probably do the same. ]

I'm going to do that too in a little bit.

[ Just let him get that one right there first and he'll come right after...

There. ]

[aslyfox]

[ After his first batch, he'll go back and pick out even more of them--- but before he does that, he'll stop Hirari and ask: ]

With these many flowers, you must be planning something big...? [ But he's already sort of figured it out, given what was brought up earlier and the smile and blush that Hirari held before they started moving the flowers over. It also made sense that one didn't want to empty out an entire store's inventory of these color flowers without having a serious goal in mind. ]

[snakebait]

[ Well, if that question didn't bring a blush back onto his face, nothing would. And so he's blushing again, but the smile on his face is full of bliss. He nods, but he doesn't want to say anything more. He can't tell someone before Botan knows, or the risk of her finding out, or him telling her before the right time will be heightened. ]

Yeah.

[aslyfox]

Mmm. [ Kogitsunemaru will nod... if the little fox could guess anything, then he wouldn't tell or say. Either way, he'll be happy to continue to put more and more flowers near the register and produce very interesting looks from some of the workers.

And maybe after the third armful, he'll stop, noting that maybe there's enough flowers (and then some!) ]

Is this enough, Hirari-san?

[ The store may as well been mostly emptied of their stock. ]

[snakebait]

[ Leaving his fourth armful by the register, he gives the pile a thoughtful look. Well, if he needs more he can just go back, couldn't he? ]

Yeah, for now.

[ He's pretty sure he'll come back for more. ]

[aslyfox]

Good! There's so many, you could probably swim in them.

[ After he drops off the last of the pink and purple flowers, he goes back to them to gather several bouquets of his own: one with blue and yellow lilies, one with white gardenias, and another with sunflowers. Looks like Kogitsunemaru had been thinking about the ones he wanted to get flowers for... ]

Think they'll give you a discount for buying so many at once?

[snakebait]

No way, that'd ruin them.

[ He takes it way too seriously when it comes to things that has to do with Botan.

He looks up at the mention of discount though. ]

Any amount of money is worth spending on Botan, so I'm okay even if they don't.

[aslyfox]

I'm sure if you have a good enough reason along with your purchase, they might add something nice with it all. Who knows? [ He certainly doesn't know, but he knows some of the folks who work at the shop! A few sword spirits, a nice country... ]

I hope someone comes by soon. Fresh flowers are certainly a great present. [ He idly taps his foot, then his other foot... and back and forth. ]

[snakebait]

Like more flowers?

[ He's pretty sure he's gotten at least a bunch of every kind when it came to those colours though...

Cashier? Well, once someone comes he'll be ready to pay for all of it. ]

[aslyfox]

[ He scratches his head, running a hand down his hair to smooth it out. ]

I mean, I suppose...? Guess you can't have too many flowers for whatever it is you're gonna do, huh. [ He's getting a little annoyed, what kind of customer service is this?... oh, it's probably because there's another chocolate making class going on and everyone's really big into that.

Eventually, some random employee will find that they're not doing their job and will start to count every flower that Hirari is buying. ]