these long summer days

[rosestolilies.livejournal.com]

Characters: Any of the characters participating in the party.
Date: Backdated to July 15th.
Summary: To apologize for the incident with the phantoms, the Queen puts together a party for all the inhabitants of the Gardens.
Warnings: IT IS A PARTY what could go wrong. (But just in case, if something occurs in your thread, please let the mods know and we will update this.)

For some days now, denizens of the Gardens may have been wondering what it is the Queen had in store for them after the phantoms had finally dispersed. Perhaps they may have been aware of the sound of hammering and construction that seemed to float on the air from no specific direction. Today, however, the sounds seem to have mysteriously ceased, and at some point, each of the girls and women will receive an invitation, written on pale yellow paper in deep pink ink that seems to shimmer slightly with certain angles of light:

You are cordially invited to the Summer Festival! Where: The Crimson Pavilion, near the northwestern edge of the Gardens When: The 15th July Please enjoy the food, drinks, and music! And, of course, the company of friends. I do hope you won't be disappointed! Love ♥ The Queen of Hearts

Asking the cats for directions, or simply heading toward the northwest of the Gardens by oneself, will eventually lead one to the aforementioned Crimson Pavilion — an enormous outdoor party tent, similar to the Viridian Pavilion in scope and size. The Pavilion is strewn with drapes of crimson gauze that shade its interior slightly from the sun, and delicate flower-shaped lights wind around each of the tent poles, producing a faint, sparkling luminance. Colorful flowers are strewn across every available surface, and a sourceless music floats on the air, an upbeat melody seemingly designed to compel one to dance. And all over the tables are food and drinks in every variety one could possibly imagine, though the overarching flavors and themes seem to remind one of summer days and tropical islands.

The drinks, especially, are very good — though perhaps one should be a little careful. There is, as they say, too much of a good thing.


[ Notes: The drinks, as one might expect, have a few side effects:

⇒ Pineapple juice compels characters who drink it to feel as if they cannot help but be honest about their feelings toward other characters. If your character has a crush on another character, or has fallen in love with her, she may not be able to resist the desire to confess her attraction.

⇒ Orange juice creates feelings of happiness and contentment. This can range from an unnaturally strong sense of giddy joy to a more calm, relaxed state of well-being. And, of course, your character may be compelled to share her feelings with others.

⇒ Fruit punch induces a desire for intimacy, whether that be holding hands or cuddling to making out and more adult activities for adult characters.

Of course, there might be other drinks with other effects, as well, and the drinks may be mixed to create multiple effects. There are also drinks that are just drinks without any special properties.

Have fun! ]

Comments

[tookupthesword.livejournal.com]

Oh... so you're being led astray, under the wings of our horrid rulers just because they give you food.

[stayedwithher.livejournal.com]

Horrid rulers? What do you mean? I like this place.

[tookupthesword.livejournal.com]

Well, I wouldn't call them good... but that was a joke.

[stayedwithher.livejournal.com]

They seem pretty neutral to me.

Oh.

[tookupthesword.livejournal.com]

I meant they suck at the job.

... Can you get me a drink?

[stayedwithher.livejournal.com]

Sure!

[She pours a glass of pineapple juice for you, and one for herself. Have fun and enjoy, but drink responsibly!

[tookupthesword.livejournal.com]

[She goes to have a drink, and when she takes her first sip, everything stop.

Turns out she's not a fan of pineapple juice. But... Sayaka can't stop, because Kyoko's there, who would rip her apart if she screwed with food again. But she really doesn't want to do this...

So she is entirely still, not moving or drinking, trying to figure out what to do.]

[stayedwithher.livejournal.com]

[Oblivious to all hell, Kyoko continues drinking hers and munching on food from her own plate that who knows when she got that but it's Kyoko]

[tookupthesword.livejournal.com]

[She just puts her drink down, and silently ponders her current... life choices.]

[stayedwithher.livejournal.com]

[After a while and three glasses of pineapple juice, Kyoko starts noticing something weird. She's blushing, shifting her weight from one leg to the other, and chewing her lip. It's like she wants to say something, but is trying to fight the urge. Finally, she breaks.]

...Hey, Sayaka?

[tookupthesword.livejournal.com]

[Sayaka thinks that the look on the others face is a sign, oh crap, she's noticed. She's probably displeased.]

... Yeah?

[stayedwithher.livejournal.com]

[Kyoko takes a deep breath and averts her eyes. This is so hard and she can't look Sayaka in the eyes, but something has her convinced that now is the time to say it.]

I uh. I need to confess something to you. It's really important, so..

[She glances around, making sure everyone is engrossed in their own business and not watching or listening.]

[tookupthesword.livejournal.com]

[As those words came to her ears, Sayaka froze in place. She of course remembered back to her talk with Mami a while ago, but just figured everything she said was due to pressure. While she did want Kyoko to be happy and stuff, she didn't really think of her like that, she was just fun to be around, now that they weren't trying to kill each other! Just friends! But...

There are enough thoughts coursing through her, each trying to come up with a reaction to this, but for now, all she can do is look blankly.

She's pretty much scared of this whole liking thing now, and doesn't know what to do anymore.]

[stayedwithher.livejournal.com]

[Kyoko just freezes, not looking up, not saying a word, and barely breathing. She's too scared to say anything more, or worse yet, look at Sayaka's face? Thoughts begin coursing through her brain at a rapid pace.]

[Kyoko, you dummy! This sort of relationship isn't normal. You've gone and scared her away now! She won't be your friend anymore! She'll probably think you're creepy now. She likes boys, remember? Why'd you go and say that?!]

[As those thoughts rush over her she remains silent, but one hand balls up into a clenched fist at her side; not in any intent to strike anything, but simply to prevent Sayaka or anyone else to see how much her hand is shaking. The other hand is held steady to her food plate; nothing would make her drop that.]

[tookupthesword.livejournal.com]

[What should she say? What should she do? Should she do anything? And there's so many people around, shouldn't make a scene either... Sayaka is reaching brick wall after brick wall in her thought process, unable to do anything now.]

[stayedwithher.livejournal.com]

[Kyoko is still frozen solid, petrified. She's narrowed it down to two options: try to laugh it off, or apologize and flee. Which is better, however, she can't seem to figure out. So she continued standing there, static as a marble statue.]

[tookupthesword.livejournal.com]

[Stupid Kyoko, why did she have to go and say something like that? I can't handle hearing something like that! Why aren't you saying anything!?

Sayaka isn't making much progress.]

[stayedwithher.livejournal.com]

[Kyoko is getting closer and closer to the flee option. The only question is the food. She can't waste it. If she left it, it'd just get thrown away. She'd just have to take it with her. Only Kyoko would be worrying about that now, though it's mostly because thinking about the actual situation anymore is just too overwhelming.]

[tookupthesword.livejournal.com]

[Actually, maybe just... talking and seeing how things go will be good.]

... Hey...

[Too bad for Sayaka though, as her words were barely more than breaths.]

[stayedwithher.livejournal.com]

[Shit. Fleeing is not an option anymore. Oh well, no need to worry about the food anymore then at least? She sucks in a few shallow breaths before trying to respond.]

[tookupthesword.livejournal.com]

[Okay, need to speak louder.]

You... didn't sound too sure about what you said... maybe you should think about it a little more. I wouldn't want you to say or do anything you'd regret later.

[As if she is one to talk.]

[stayedwithher.livejournal.com]

[She breathes out slowly and relaxes. Okay, it wasn't as bad as she'd thought. She's not gonna back down now. She never does things half-assed. Especially not something like this. She takes a minute to gather her thoughts, then speaks again.]

No. I'm sure. I've been...thinking about this for a long time, actually. I've talked to a few people in the Gardens about it. What I feel for you isn't...it isn't just friendship, Sayaka.

[tookupthesword.livejournal.com]

[Her breathing grew heavier and more strained. A fear is running through her spine. What should she do? Should she go along with this? But does she like Kyoko back, or has this all just been desperation? It could easily be the second, Sayaka thinks. Desperate for the idea to be with someone, to be cherished, and who better than the one who died with her?

So, maybe it would be better to try and stall for time, delay an answer to try and figure things out, since she's being put on point now. But, that wouldn't be right, would it? Neither would going through with desperation.

She really doesn't want to hurt someone again, so Sayaka is really trying to think here.[

[stayedwithher.livejournal.com]

[She watches Sayaka carefully. She isn't sure if it's good or bad that she can't tell what Sayaka is thinking, but either way she's nervous. Taking several more deep breaths, she speaks again.]

If you don't...feel the same way, it's alright. Really. But I mean it. It took me a while to figure it out, but...I think this is why I decided to die to be with you again. And I'd do it again if it came to it. In a heartbeat.

[tookupthesword.livejournal.com]

[Well, maybe trying to explain would work out...]

... I don't know what to tell you. Now that I'm on point like this... I'm pretty scared. It hasn't been that long since we could call ourselves friends, and I wouldn't want to screw that up. And besides...

If I went along with this, what if it was for the wrong reasons? Like, what if I was just desperate for that kind of relationship, just selfishly wanting to be loved? Or if I did this all out of guilt over everything I've done, just so you could be happy. I think that would be the worst thing I could do to you, even after everything before.

So... I... I'm sorry. I do enjoy being around you, but I think I'm a bit of a wreck over this kind of thing now.