it's not unusual to have fun with anyone

[innocentloveholic]

[ The ballroom's a little swanky for a simple get-together like this, but...

Well, actually, judging by what you see when you come in at the appointed time (or even before that, but Aligula'll be huffy if you do!?), what was advertised is not exactly what's going on. Continuing her war on paper, Aligula's put up origami hearts (or her attempts at them; she got better as she figured out what she was doing, but they're not the best) pretty much everywhere. There's also sheets taped to every wall with encouraging things in her curly-cute script like GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER! and FIND A PARTNER! and WELCOME TO SPEED-DATING!

...Yeah, welcome to speed-dating.

There's a lot of chairs paired together, presumably for the whole "partnering up" thing, and everyone anywhere near the ballroom will be getting a sheet of questions titled SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS. There at least seems to be food like she promised? At least... there's signs pointing to the dining room across the wall to suggest it, and entering the dining room gets you hot chocolate (and water, if you're boring, as well treating you to the sight of a parfait bar, with various cups and glasses to stand in for actual parfait glasses. There's also things for making sandwiches—she pretty much grabbed whatever she could think of from the fridge and such—and of course, plates and utensils and etc.

And if none of that's appetizing then, like, kitchen's not that far, go make something yourself. She put a lot of work into this whole thing but especially the parfait bar because she loves parfait and everyone can have fun making those.

If you don't think your character would've come without a little help, don't worry; even if Aligula can't bodily drag everyone, she sure can bother them aggressively until they come just to get her to leave them alone. All in all, don't sweat the small stuff and have a good time getting to know each other! Or go sulk and play the piano, whatever. ]

Comments

[matchbreaker]

[ Oh.

... For a hot second there, he pauses in her sketching, looking up properly with lightly red cheeks. But then she bursts out laughing into her evil old lady laugh, leaning back in the chair ]

Hah! Well said, girl!

[bloodbiter]

[A slightly wry smile.]

I hope I did not embarrass you too much.

[matchbreaker]

Nothing I can't live through, at least. Don't you worry at all!

[bloodbiter]

I will have faith in your ability to withstand it, then.

[A smile.]

I believe it is your turn, Elda.

[matchbreaker]

Oh, right.

[ . . . You know after a quick glance down the one her eyes linger on... she thinks of Fern, smirks some and taps it with her finger ]

Lets's go with this one - do you consider yourself grown up? An adult?

[bloodbiter]

[She hesitates, thinking about it for a moment, but...]

Yes, I do.

[matchbreaker]

Aren't you only sixteen?

[ A part of her thinks "take that, Fern" but then some other part of her... well, that's the same age as her granddaughter. ]

[bloodbiter]

Yes. I'm not certain how that makes a difference, though.

[matchbreaker]

It's just young sounding to me, I suppose.

[bloodbiter]

Regardless of how it sounds, I think I would consider myself one.

[matchbreaker]

I don't doubt it.

[ Mmm. ]

What do you feel the mark of it is?

[bloodbiter]

It's difficult to explain it aloud, but...

[Hm.]

Knowing that you can survive on your own, I suppose. That you don't need anyone to protect you any longer.

[matchbreaker]

[ She... nods a little bit. Yeah that seems reasonable, right? But at the same time... mmm. ]

Yeah, that sounds about right. Certainly it's a matter of responsibility.

[bloodbiter]

Responsibility, and the ability to sustain yourself.

I take it you would answer the same way to this question.

[matchbreaker]

I'd be pretty pathetic if I didn't.

[ 233 and all. ]

... But I would have claimed it by that definitely for the first time when I was older than you are now.

[bloodbiter]

[Interesting.]

At what age would you have done so?

[matchbreaker]

Twenty-three, I'd say.

[ She says this quickly, but then laughs a little. ]

... I was a noble lady, I never really wanted for anything and still lived in the family manor until then.

[bloodbiter]

But you left when you were around that age?

[matchbreaker]

Yes, that age.

[ That was when she wasn't given any other choice. ]

[bloodbiter]

What prompted you to leave home?

[A beat.]

If I might ask.

[matchbreaker]

[ . . No, no you may not. But Adelina's been good enough to her, so she exhales through her teeth and stands ]

I'm going to get some water, so I'll just make this my last answer.

[ Exhale. ]

Circumstances changed and I was forced to leave my homeland behind. That's when I left.

[ and she's going to just. Go now. To get water. ]

[bloodbiter]

[...Oh.

She debates on following her for a moment, but she doesn't want to crowd her or push her to speak about something painful. There's a look of concern as Elda walks away, but she doesn't go towards her.]