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[SEMI-CLOSED] You don't know who I was before we met / But you adore me despite who I was
Who: Lortel Kehelland, Megumi Fushiguro, & most of the Crosby crew, feat. Sharon de Silva
What: The teens have realized it's their six month anniversary. Shenanigans ensue as their friends and family help them plan the perfect celebration.
When: Late August, post-team event
Where: The Crosby Hotel
Warnings: nah. except maybe tooth rotting cuteness.
Not truly going to have prompts here, but instead collect all our roughed out plans!
What: The teens have realized it's their six month anniversary. Shenanigans ensue as their friends and family help them plan the perfect celebration.
When: Late August, post-team event
Where: The Crosby Hotel
Warnings: nah. except maybe tooth rotting cuteness.
Not truly going to have prompts here, but instead collect all our roughed out plans!
- Finding the perfect gifts (Aven/Cae/Megumi, Lortel/Aven/Megumi)
- Making the cake (Lortel/Cae/Cyrene/Ratio OR Lortel/Cae/Cyrene, Ratio/Megumi)
- Preparing the venue (Lortel/Aven/any Crosby folks who might want to pitch in)
- Preparing dinner (Lortel/Ignis, possibly Megumi/Ignis, probably also any Crosby folks who want to help/Ignis)
- That's all I got! Feel free to come up with your own thoughts/thread plans to join in the festivities before the teens get to have their actual date! The whole Crosby crew is welcome to get involved, so anyone else who'd like to join is more than welcome, but feel free to hit up server plotting!(
- Some additional suggestions: helping with decorations, the girls getting ready together, the guys helping Megumi get ready, a distant popcorn gallery for the date itself, etc., the world is our oyster. DM/pplurk/disco server for any further thoughts or planning ideas!
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More importantly, if he's not at the piano, he's eating some cake, his wings smoothed down as he enjoys each sweet bite in between sips of a bottle of Fanta that probably went flat ages ago. ]
This is absolutely delicious. I wonder how everyone got it so moist without dairy.
[ Please don't let the answer be zombie cows and zombie milk... ]
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[ Once again, the fruits of science save the day. Quite literally in the case of some of the ones grown in the greenhouse. ]
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[ Oh, how he's missed you, fresh chocolate... ]
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[ This is his daughter and her boyfriend’s anniversary cake. Of course the man made a full on blueprint of the two layer creation on a whiteboard. Granted, it has design contributions from Cyrene, Caelus, and others. But he’s the guy parking the board on the side of the kitchen where it is visible but not in the way. ]
— And that is the summary of the expected steps for the Apple Ginger Crumble Cake. Any questions?
B. It’s Dog or Die
[ Once satisfied all operations are proceeding smoothly, the man sets himself and anyone wishing to assist to an important task. ]
Zero points. The muzzle is too large! Trim it down!
[ Making cartoonish fondant dogs. A small set of them in various poses have been done by Ratio. Now he is simply instructing the stragglers on proper cartoon dog construction. ]
C. Cake Cutting
[ Once the cake has finally been assembled, Ratio places himself in charge of cutting it. Naturally, this results in very even distribution of the slices. The final slice of cake is plated with one efficient gesture. ]
There. That is the last of that.
[ The people may now rejoice in freedom from their taskmaster. ]
B.
Can I eat the remainder that's left behind once it's fixed?
[ why yes he's hovering around and being useless currently (but he's at least being mindful to only being a little bit in the way!) ]
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I suppose that is certainly better than the alternative.
[ As if an cue, a pitiful meow is able to be heard outside the kitchen doors. ]
[CLOSED TO MEGUMI] ✨ The Date Night ✨
thanks to said help, she makes it there first, holding a slim silver clutch that matches her shoes; she feels, somehow, all at once, silly and girlish and beautiful in her gauzy green gown, just the right color to set off her eyes. she even has a bit of makeup on, her lips ruby red and eyelids prettied with shadow and liner. her hair is in a much more elaborate style than usual; mostly down, the gently teased loose waves reaching nearly to her hips. this transformation had taken her and Sharon some time, but her sister had been so enthusiastic about how it came out... that some piece of her can't help but hope Megumi will think she's beautiful, too.
she can't stop being an Offering, can't stop having these horrible green arms and legs, scales and gills, fins and glowing veins, but ...
for just one night, she can feel like a normal girl again—like a normal girl who might actually be pretty, instead of a strange and repulsive monster—and it is a priceless gift. nothing she could do would be enough to thank each and every one of them for this most precious of things: a moment of safe, warm happiness in this ruined world.
these people around her ... her family, and her friends ... did all this, just for the two of them. two people who never once saw value in their lives beyond simple utility,
until.
to be loved, and cared for ... is the strangest thing.
emotional, and a bit pink in the face, she settles in to wait near the entrance, wondering—perhaps hoping—that Megumi might give her his arm to lead her to their table. she can see it, the one clearly meant for them, given the piping hot, fresh food that awaits them there. it has lit candles on it, to boot, which makes her hide a smile behind her hand. how romantic.
the entire room is gorgeously appointed, of course, thanks to Aventurine, lit warmly and decorated elegantly with colorful hanging lamps and recessed lighting tucked into the crown molding. the smooth wood of the floor, the detailed upholstering of the chairs, the handsomely laid out tables, the richly painted walls dotted here and there with works of art...
it's, all of this, such a sweet and brief little dream of another life it almost makes her want to cry.
but she'll turn, lips slightly parted as she takes a breath, when she hears footsteps. ]
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(A little too ready, if you ask him.)
When he finally manages to claw his way out of the whirlwind of every possible grooming task he could think of and a few that never would've occurred to him, he's a little more exposed and a lot more fashionable than he'd like, but Aventurine has assured him (so very many times) that Lortel will love it, and he needs to trust the process.
And that's all he really needed to hear, because as awkward as he feels to be dressed up for this...for her, he'd put up with considerably more. If it brings her even a fraction of the happiness she's brought to him, then it's worth it, and though there's just a moment of hesitation in his steps, as he nears where she's already waiting, that thought is enough to push him through, down the stairs and to the door.
-- and he pauses mid-step again when he sees her, unable to keep himself from staring.
Megumi's not one to pay much mind to fashion, but it's impossible not to notice how purely radiant she looks. ]
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her lips remain softly, silently parted; the pink in her cheeks warms into a true blush. even her eyes are a little wide as she takes a long, slow breath in.
she's always thought he was handsome, little as he seemed to believe her, but this is... his hair, that—that suit—
all it takes is a glimpse of that defined chest behind the open buttons of his dress shirt and she flames scarlet, heart pounding as her gaze briefly darts away. she's already seen— why is it so— only the top three buttons are undone, whyever is she—
truly unable to decide if she wants to kiss or kill Aventurine, she shoves the thought aside and tries to gather her thoroughly scattered wits. she'll melt over into one of the brightest, warmest smiles he'll have ever seen on her face. she can't help beaming. ]
My handsome boyfriend, [ she'll murmur, their tether singing with love and sweet joy and endless delight. ]
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(A nice punch, as they go. Not one that'll break anything. Just...you know.)
At least it means they match, because he's blushing, too -- though not in clear reaction to any particular element of her look. He steps in close, reaches up to brush a stray lock of hair back into place. ]
You look amazing.
[ It's understandable that she wouldn't want to wear it down normally; it's a lot, and they're busy and often in danger and the last thing anyone wants to worry about is getting hair in their face, he gets it --
But oh, when she does wear it down. ]
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finally she seems to remember herself, her mouth clicking shut as she briefly dips her chin. gosh... ]
What a funny thing to say, coming from the most handsome man I've ever seen...
[ hee. the smile that wobbles across her face is touched and delighted. ]
That is to say... so do you.
[ she can practically hear that thought he has about her hair, and a little bit of wicked mischief lifts the corners of her mouth. she'll have to keep that in mind for later, won't she...
proactively she takes his arm, rather than waiting for him to offer—there's good reasons, she realizes, that he wouldn't think to, not the least of which being that he can't seem to stop staring at her—so they can walk in together.
but, briefly, she'll lean up to whisper in his ear. ]
Such a shame it will be, when I ruin your nice suit by tearing it off you once we get upstairs...~
[ she IS teasing him,
but also, ]
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But he knows that someone (or several) is probably watching from behind some door or corner, so in an intense act of willpower, he gets his wits back under him enough to murmur back -- ]
Good thing Aventurine was the one to foot the bill, then.
[ Such as it is -- not that there was any money involved, but there must've been some kind of effort to find it in the first place.
He tilts his head in the direction of their table. ]
Shall we?
1/2
[ ... he's gotten frighteningly good at dodging her traps, hasn't he ... ]
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she giggles. actually giggles, shoulders jumping with it.
by the time she lifts her head again it's very clear she, too, is blushing, because a trap can catch anyone careless enough to stumble into it, including the one who laid it. ]
We shall, my love, [ she hums, kissing his cheek. and she'll laugh again when she has to wipe away the lipstick smudge she leaves there.
she'll beam, bright as the sun, when he pulls out her chair for her, watching him with a hand laid over her heart. gracefully she'll sit, her clutch tucked in her lap. she takes the opportunity to glance around once more as he joins her, the look on her face softening into something quite gentle. ]
They're really all so sweet, doing all this for us...
[ her fingers curl around the clutch; she glances down at her lap with a small and crooked smile in a moment of uncharacteristic insecurity. ]
... I'm tempted to say I don't know what I've done to deserve all this, but ... [ her gaze lifts to find his face, and her smile warms and steadies. ] ... I know what reply I'd give you, if you were the one to say such a thing ... so perhaps I shouldn't worry about it.
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[ the first thing she does, before any of the rest of all this kicks off, is approach Aventurine. she actually visits the Crosby Hotel in person. not that she isn't already there every so often, given she and Megumi share a room here, and it's where Dr.—
—her father lives. it's more that she wants to see him in person for this, not because of any particular necessity for an in-person discussion, but simply because she'd like to see his face as they talk.
when she arrives in the lobby, she'll give their tether a cheeky little tug. it feels like a smile, and like she's saying,
Come get me. I want something warm to drink. ]
B. WHY IS ANYONE LETTING HER HELP MAKE HER OWN CAKE? (OPEN)
[ well. of course things would end up like this. she should have known telling Aventurine would mean the entire hotel helping out, in the end...
ridiculous, this little family they've made, here.
in the end, quite a few people end up in the kitchen helping with the cake. she'd had to ask her father for help directly—largely to keep Caelus and Cyrene in check.
she's humming and peeling some apples, smiling, and anyone who attempts to shoo her away will get a: ]
Hush, just peeling some apples can hardly ruin the surprise.
[ she won't even look up. good luck kicking her out. ]
C. SHE GOT KICKED OUT (CLOSED TO IGNIS)
[ it had required a group effort, but nevertheless, they finally managed to eject her from the premises. pouting, she'll use this time to go find Ignis, and knock on his door. ]
Ignis, it's me~. Are you free? I ... I'd like to ask you a favor.
D. HER SISTER IS COOLER THAN YOU GUYS ANYWAY! (CLOSED TO SHARON)
[ she'd tugged on their tether to ask for Sharon's help; she's invited her sister into her room at the Crosby, since Megumi has long since been whisked away by Caelus and Aventurine to get ready himself, looking faintly alarmed the whole time.
god. she can't stop smiling. this is all so stupid, they have so many more concerns and problems they should be focusing on, but— ]
Surely just one night is alright ... isn't it?
[ it comes out less confident than she'd like as she sits there on the edge of their bed, smiling crookedly at the floor. her loose hair flows down her back in long waves, long enough to touch the duvet on which she sits when she leans back a little. her smile will warm and sweeten as she looks up at Sharon. ]
Thank you, for this... I had no idea how I was going to do my hair on my own. I usually kept it quite simple even for formal events, but tonight is...
[ ... she blushes, and shakes her head. ]
You know, I even found some makeup, too.
E. A PROMISE RING IN NAME ONLY (CLOSED TO CAELUS)
[ it's the next day that she goes to see him; she and Megumi spent the night at the hotel, because of course they did. (
going all the way back uptown to Columbia would have taken much too long for her to get her hands on him in private.)she still gets emotional every single time she looks at the ring, back in its rightful place on her right ring finger. her heart throbs every time she so much as catches sight of it in her periphery. Megumi had admitted whom he'd spoken to about it, and she goes to Caelus first. ]
He told me he talked to you, you know, [ she'll murmur, moving smoothly about the hotel's kitchen, which is quiet at this time of morning. she's making a pot of coffee. ] Caelus, I...
[ she'll pause in her movements, and sigh, turning to face him. her eyes are wet, and the smile on her face is so tender. ]
Thank you. I know Aventurine made the ring, but even still, I ... thank you.
[ she lays her hands over her heart—her left atop her right, fingertips touching the ring's soft pink flower. ]
You've already done so much for us, and here I am, about to ask you for another favor...
b.
[ There's more than enough apples, and he will just snatch one for himself even if he really wants cake. However, there are enough people constructing it, and he's not going to add to the menagerie of chefs and bakers when he's already providing mood music for the party. ]
I do apologize for everyone's excitement, but the celebrations in the hotel are few and far between.
[ Plus, they never got to host that wedding for Ivan and Till, so they have to unload all that energy elsewhere. ]
How are you doing otherwise?
C
Fortunately, a knock on his door draws his attention away from that thought. He pulls himself up from where he is sitting on the bed leaning against Regalia--who in true cat fashion is taking up most of the bed--and makes his way to the door. When he sees Lortel, a warm smile crosses his face, though just below the surface is a bit of good-humored wariness.]
Lortel, come in! You're sure in a good mood today. Dare I ask what this favor is?
the makeover montage! (aven, caelus, ???)
But Aventurine knows his size (however that even happened) and has at least done him the courtesy of keeping to black, so that's fine. It's at least straight-forward and he doesn't have to worry about figuring out how to put anything on. Nicer than his usual, sure, but pants are still pants, and jackets are still jackets.
And shirts are still shirts, and he's doing the buttons up to the top, and -- why is Aventurine looking at him like that? ]
What?
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if you must know, he uses his lightweaving abilities to capture people's measurements like a tape measure that they can't actually see and he's able to use the light to count length and distances because as a lightweaver he can just simply tell (idk idk). he's actually very good at numbers and math.Aventurine is definitely staring at Megumi as he does those buttons.
one thing Megumi will learn today is the that when you go on dates with pretty ladies, you don't dress for yourself you dress entirely for them. he's currently smiling
he smiles!! like that particular smile that usually happens as a warning of sorts that suggests he's about to get involved and take over and there's no debating this matter. ]
Sooo... you don't button this style of shirt all the way to the top because there's no collar for a tie or other accessory. You want to let your neck breathe a bit.
[ this is so typical: fashionable pretty girl falls in love with basic ass boy and it is aesthetic chaos on dates if an intervention isn't successfully deployed. lucky for them, aventurine is very happy to sacrifice himself for the picture perfect success of this date—
—even if the entire fucking venue they have to go dating in is an absolute dumpster fire.
thanks as always one for nothing!!]no subject
What do you mean, this style. It looks like every other buttoned shirt I've ever worn in my life.
[ Putting buttons on something and intending for nobody to actually use them is asinine! ]
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[ and no it's stylish... your girlfriend will love it that's all you need to care about.
he pauses a moment when he's told it looks like every other shirt Megumi's wore. His voice is gentle... ]
I see. Does it look the same to you because it has buttons on the front, long sleeves, and it's black?
[ ...in that playful patronizing kind of way because just stop being cranky about things you don't understand and accept you are wrong ok!!! ]
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[ Despite the fact that the clan inheritance means he probably could do that now, if he wanted. (And if he were back home, not...here.)
It always felt too ridiculous to consider. After those earliest years, when he and Tsumiki were never sure when one of their parents would actually show up and whether they'd pay for any of the necessities when they did, Megumi never really got out of the habit of sticking to necessities and little else. If clothes were functional and didn't break the bank, that was all he needed out of them.
He still hasn't actually undone those buttons that Aventurine insists he doesn't need, though. ]
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Aventurine is waiting and kind of shifting his eyes from the teenager's face to the top buttons on the shirt and then back again, with a light little smile waiting ... very expectantly.
don't make him have to take this into his own hands. ]
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[ YOU KNOW DAMNED WELL, SIR.
...he is not fixing those buttons. He has been distracted by huffing. ]