[MINGLE] chocolate and roses

[vrdr_mods]

It's Valentine's Day, and that means just one thing for the inhabitants of the Velvet Room: chaos.

And chocolate, possibly. Or even something else? Or perhaps you're spending the holiday entirely by yourself?

[[ooc: just a quick catchall post for any toplevels or threads people might want to make for the holiday! Feel free to make inbox or journal posts as well.]]

Comments

[lakebrat]

a. locked to trickster

Frog has locked down the Leblanc counter for Valentine's Day, mainly by dint of smiling a lot whenever the topic came up. Now he's scurrying around behind it, in his green apron, with a suspicious number of bowls and pans, and far too many notes spread around and hanging from the shelves. Sojiro would be furious.

b. locked to sunflowren

Later that evening, everything is a lot less chaotic. At least, visibly. Goro even has a new shirt on, in a familiar shade of blue.

He's reading behind the counter, sipping coffee, as if it was all no trouble at all.

A

[phantomlotus]

As Frog scurries about behind the counter, the door to Leblanc opens. Perhaps in the rush it would take a second to check who it is, but thankfully she's quick to speak up.

"Frog-san, I'm back~."

Perhaps a little more sing-song than it needs to be, but what can Trickster say? She's making the most of Valentine's Day, seeing as she's put the effort into dressing up for it.

Her hair is resting on her shoulder in a somewhat fanciful red ribbon, she's wearing a short, black long-sleeved jacket over a nice, short red dress with black leggings and black heeled boots.

Her eyes trail over to the countless bowls, pots, and notes all over the place. Oh dear. Frog's been having quite a time taking care of the place for Valentine's Day, huh...?

"You need help? I can grab an apron and get to work."

[lakebrat]

"Oh, no!" declares a slightly-more-than-haphazard Frog, lifting a pot lid nervously to give it a stir. "I'm on top of it. I have everything prepared. This meal is no match for me."

... but he glances, as she catches his eye. Huh. "Nice dress."

He didn't think Trickster was with anybody. Shows what he knows, perhaps?

b

[willowandoak]

Ren wanders in after refilling the training room snacks, in the same clothes he always wears. It's not that he doesn't know it's Valentine's Day, with everyone else fussing, but it hasn't even crossed his mind to have any kind of squishy, lovey-dovey celebration with Goro. Who actually does that? Hiro vibes.

"Hey." He stops just inside the threshold and takes another look at Goro. "Nice shirt."

[youngestdawn]

In honor of Valentine's Day, Aki-chan has pulled out all the stops! In the Velvet Room, you'll find him manning a table with plenty of peach blossoms and jasmine branches -- both meaning friendship -- to give out to everyone, alongside some roses of many colors, alstroemerias, and forget-me-nots for people to give to their loved ones. There's even some dahlias and lilies and lotuses and sunflowers! Anyone is welcome to stop by and look at Aki-chan's display of flowers and their hanakotoba meanings and take some for themselves and their loved ones.

[lakebrat]

A rather frazzled-looking Frog bursts through the Tokyo door. It takes him a moment to notice the array of flowers—and Aki-chan.

He stops, catching his breath with a weird little smile. "Hello, oniichan."

[phantomlotus]

Trickster can't help but smile when she spots Aki-chan's stand. Naturally, she approaches.

"Hey, Aki-chan. These are some really nice flowers you have here. Did you set these out for Valentine's Day?"

[pancakeboy]

Valentine's Day is stupid. Really stupid. And meaningless to Magpie. He would like that to be clear.

However, if you have anything for him, you might find him in the training room, or the Central Street gym. Or in the Dojima house.

Training Room

[phantomlotus]

Trickster has been looking everywhere. And boy, does she mean everywhere. Of course the last place is the new training room, she should have checked here first.

And so, right as she spots Magpie, she calls out to him.

"Hey, Magpie. Getting some good training in?"

Surely she's not here to distract people, at least. Surely.

dojihouse

[youngestdawn]

Early in the morning, before Magpie leaves for the day, Aki-chan cautiously puts a red carnation in front of Magpie's room, with a note that reads "red carnation - family". Aki-chan wants to see Magpie's reaction, but...he's gonna be in A Magpie Mood. He decides to just leave it for Magpie to discover.

[fogboundcrow]

Psst, Magpie. You have a little tagalong following you toward the gym. He looks a little nervous, and he's got something behind his back.

What do?

Locked to mini

[vessel_ken_amada]

Ken wakes up later than usual, as today is a rest day.

[Little does he know, there is a reason the schedule designated today as a rest day.]

It smells... differently than usual. A pleasant food smell. He goes groggily to the bathroom, does his morning routine, and then leaves, a little more alert.

There there is... Jay cooking, seemingly watching tutorials at the same time. It seems a little involved. It's not the first time Jay tries his hand at cooking, but he doesn't usually spend that much effort in the morning. That was weird.

[fledglingcrow]

Mini was certainly not skilled in the kitchen. But the video was helping.... kind of. It went too fast some times. And there was definitely egg parts... where egg parts should not be. It would be alright he'd clean it later.

But he had three well cooked eggs to eat, five attempts in the trashcan. There was bacon cooking on the pan. Then he had two slices of toast on each plate. Each bread was hand cut into a heart, it wasn't perfect on any of them, in fact it was quite bad on one of them.

He just had to not throw away too many bacon slices and he'd be able to wake up Ken. Success. The perfect valentines day morning.

[shakenit]

Sumire would never claim not to be nervous about this. It's... effectively a date activity, after all. But she trusts Hamuko, and likes her quite a bit, so she's willing to see how this goes.

She heads down to the dorm's kitchen, as requested. And she brought music.

[wipingallout]

Hamuko's been prepping the kitchen - she bullied Shinji out of it for a few hours, told him that he and Ken are getting some cookies later and Koromaru some special made snacks, but the kitchen is her turf till she's done!!

Everything needed for a cake is set out, and Hamuko's measuring out the ingredients in separate bowls - she beams seeing Sumire.

"Hey! I got everything and the recipe!" she giggled, turning around - she'd found a pastel orange apron, with a few embroidered orange slices and orange blossoms. "Isn't this apron so cute? I couldn't resist nabbing it! Heheh. Without a budget to worry about I swear my room is gonna get completely stuffed with cute clothes."

Early in the day!

[wipingallout]

Before her date, before making a cake with Violet... Hamuko had a mission.

Yesterday, in between helping people make chocolates, she'd baked a bunch of cookies. She wants to get to know people, to get to meet them.

So she approaches, offering a cutely tied bundle of wrapped cookies, with a geranium flower in the ribbon - and a big smile.

"Hi! I think we haven't chatted yet. Happy Valentine's! Would you like some cookies?"

On the 15th

[lostgemini]

Kou stares at the sudden gift being pushed into his face, a little dumbfounded. He'd just come out to get some fresh air after the whole valentines thing, unwilling to deal with it or the disgusting couples macking all over each other. He and Goro also used to receive way too many meaningless chocolates from people who didn't even know either of them- who thought they were both Goro, anyway.

(Part of him liked the attention, but for the most part, he didn't hold any love for the holiday. Though he did enjoy talking smack about the gifts at home with Goro, later, while eating the chocolates.)

Regardless, he hadn't exactly... expected this, cigarette threatening to fall from his mouth before he closes it, looking up at the girl in front of him.

"... I don't believe we have, no," he says, after a moment, eyeing the cookies. They look fine, but... "What kind are they?"

[paradisefraught]

"Oh! Cookies!" Morning immediately appears at her flank. "I love cookies...I forgot it was Valentine's Day!"

[seekerofjustice]

Dove wasn't expecting to be stopped like this, and he blinks with a mildly surprised expression.

"Hamuko-san! It's good to-- hmm?"

His eyes lower from Hamuko's to look at the nicely wrapped bundle.

"...Ah, yes. It is Valentine's Day, isn't it? With how busy I've been, I'd nearly forgotten..."

He looks back at her, smiling a bit.

[fogboundcrow]

Valentine's Day... This year is the first time that it really matters to him, now that he has someone, but it begs the question, so he addresses the Network...

An inquiry, if anyone has the time.

Typically, Valentine's Day involves girls giving chocolate to boys, while White Day is the reverse.

But what if you're both boys? What then?

In the west, it's a more general commercialized holiday framed around love, and nothing says we have to adhere to our own cultural norms.

I'm just not sure what the proper protocol is. I do have a plan, and I plan to stick to it, but I'm curious what others think.

With that, he's off on a quest to find the people dear to him in order to hand out various chocolate confections he made with some help from Crow and Hiro.

And to grab more chocolates from the fanciest stores in each door. He has a basket in one hand and a backpack on his back. Care to investigate his antics?

[mountainfoggedlotus]

Oh, gosh. That's Goro. Oh, gosh. Goro is coming through the door of the chocolatier. Ohgoshohgoshohgosh.

Ren straightens up. He's not nervous! Absolutely not!! He has the table for two and the tablecloth is perfect and the vase of roses is perfect and the candles are perfect and his suit is perfect and the chocolates are perfect and he even has cologne on.

"Took you long enough to get here, Mr. Raven," Ren calls out, leaning on his elbows, casual. "I thought you'd forgotten about me."

Roguish smile, hair brushed back, a little chuckle. Ren didn't tell him about this. But. He knew he'd come here. Raven works like that.

[Network]

[aknightnotaprincess]

I think in that case, it doesn't matter which boy (or girl if it's two girls) gives chocolate first. Then they can choose if either the other gives a gift on White Day or just skips it.

[If Raven wants any friendship chocolate, she can come over to give it to him.]

texting back

[wicked_plan]

Tbh it doesn't matter when you're both boys. I went all out for Goro- ah, Karasu, that is, and I'm anticipating a huge success.

Who cares anyways? Not like anyone here's gonna judge you for not following a tradition right- and even outside of here, it's none of their business if they do.

Go get 'em tiger. Sweep mini-me off his feet.

[fogbornphantom]

A. Hiro (Shadowkechi)

On Valentine's day, Hiro can be spotted setting up a table in the Velvet Room with an assortment of wrapped chocolates in the shape of hearts and some added goodies, like chocolate cupcakes and brownies. Each one comes with an inspirational note, but there's a sign at the table as well.

It reads: I know that today is typically reserved for couples, but even if you're single or separated from a partner, know that you are worthy of love. It doesn't have to be romantic. Not everyone pursues such things, and that's perfectly fine.

The important thing is you're not alone.

B. Crow

While Hiro sets up his table, Crow can be found milling about at a rather brisk pace. It is Valentine's Day, after all, so he can be spotted in both Iwatodai and at Rafflesia, trying to compare their selections of flowers.

But that's not all. Even if he's already made homemade chocolates, he's poking around various sweet shops purely for science. The sight of gay chicken themed sweets even earn some laughter from him, and he grabs two, just for the novelty of it all.

To say nothing of the chocolate Gorbs, Rorbs, and other assorted orbs, with mysterious fillings. "...Well, I suppose they are an appropriate shape."

[paradisefraught]

"Uh."

Morning has to think about that one...

"We study how cognition affects our perception of life! And how our perceptions can make things a reality!"