thenearshore | Multicoloured kindnesses, met by chance, one by one

Who: Yuna and EVERYONE. No CR? No problem, drop on by to make new friends!
When: March 21st, all day
Where: Shinju's Temple
What: Hanami birthday party yayayay

[With a blanket invitation delivered, the only matter of business left is ensuring the temple is set up nicely for a gathering!

The main attraction of the day, of course, being flower-viewing in the temple's courtyard. With light snacks and refreshments lined up at tables inside the building itself and blankets and pillows available to pick up for lounging under the flowering branches, the 'viewing' part of the day should be set. As winds blow lazily through the area, blossoms in an array of colors are occasionally shaken free from the tree, falling in gentle showers to the ground below, creating a serene, relaxing atmosphere. A handful of paper lanterns have been strategically placed around the grounds as well, ensuring that anyone who happens to arrive or stay as the sun sets can still have a good view.

Elsewhere in the temple, the room Yuna uses largely for crafts appears to have spilled over somewhat. There are a few stands set up with origami paper, watercolors and brushes arranged at a table with a few chairs, card stock, glue, colored pencils, stickers, ribbons, and most importantly, there are flowers. There are flowers everywhere. Some arranged tastefully in vases, some dried and pressed and left alongside the other craft supplies, clearly for use in tandem with whatever you feel like making with the other things left out in such a tantalizing way. Go ahead. Make some stuff.

And, while the invitation had been extended to pretty much anyone wanting to drop by, should any of Yuna's friends decide to stay a little longer, she'll let them know of a cozy hot spring bath in one of the back rooms of the temple. Towels will be provided, of course, so why not stay and have a soak to wind the day down with?

The hostess herself will be roaming about the party in high spirits, ready and willing to top up beverages, share a snack, or just have a nice chat. So - kick back! Enjoy the sights!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No more that- [ Sudden forehead poke! ] I'm no lord, just call me Caster.

[ Well technically his mother was a sister of the king, but excessive titulatures came a few centuries later. He's a simple man. ]

[ Ovelia balked for a moment, before her cheeks turned a deep rose, ducking her head in embarrassment. ]

S-ser Caster it shall be, then. Forgive me, I meant no disrespect...

[ That doesn't sound like disrespect but like too much respect. Also, she got him, he should have asked to drop all formalities, not just the milord part.

And thus he got ser'd. Such is life ]

You just won't give up, huh? [ He chuckles softly. That is an admirable trait ] I'm not that big on formalities, you see. But fine-

[ He absolutely can play this game. And so he finishes the rose- maybe he'll have to make another one again, since that demonstration just got sped up so he can offer small paper rose ]

O Lady Rose-Maker, does this result please you?

[ Ovelia gingerly took the offered rose. She'd tried to pay attention to what he'd been doing, but the conversation about formalities had distracted her, and yet she still smiled, if a bit weakly. ]

Ovelia... My name is Ovelia. And thank you, for this. I feel these would make a lovely crown.

[ Got a name! Got a smile! Play the fanfare- probably bit too early for that, but oh well. ]

Time to make more flowers then. [ A beat ] Your turn.

[ He'll offer a piece of friendly advice and helping hand. Surely ]

[ She took the offered paper with a nod. She had missed some of his motions, but... the logic of the folds should be self apparent after mimicing the first few steps, right? And so she went about it, though taking a deliberate pace with it, assuring each crease was perfect... ]

[ Caster takes a look at how it goes, and when he sees she got that, alright- He figures how to make a simple addition to the crown, in form of this.

Crafting in the company of beautiful girl isn't a bad way to spend time, but he does get a bit bored of silence. ]

Why the flower crown?

I... do not really know, actually. But there is something to their nature that calms me, brings small joys into my life. [ And given how her emotional state most of the time was most accurately described as "depression", she took what she could get. ]

I often give them as gifts, particularly to my goddess, the Lady Sancus, Goddess of Oaths.

And live flowers can be rare at this time of year. [ Though soon they will be blooming everywhere. He finishes few of those simpler flowers in various colors, and adds them to the to-be-a-crown-soon pile ]

You must live with a good goddess. [ Goddess of Oaths, that's a good responsibility to represent ]

She is... [ Ovelia's cheeks darkened, her eyes turning towards the paper rose in her hand. ]

She is strong and wise, kind and fair. I am blessed to even be in her presence, her valor and warmth lifting me ever out of darkness...

[ There's a dreamy quality to her gaze as she speaks, reverie clear in both her tone and in her disposition. But the way she describes her goddess didn't merely suggest utmost admiration, but something stronger than even that. The words carried with them something heavier, something that made her heart beat faster... ]

Oho! Sounds like love is in the air- [ Caster says is in a quite playful tone, but there is no vicious mockery behind it. Just light teasing. He starts making a stem, a structure to hold the crown whole. ]

I can understand your gift a bit better now.

[ Ovelia, in turn, turned bright red and stammered wildly for a few moments before managing to find her words ]

I beg you not speak of such serious matters so flippantly! My loyalty and appreciation for my goddess should not be so mistaken for a maiden's romantic pining! Tis no such thing!

[ The lady doth protests overmuch... ]

Got it, got it--

[ Okay, this time he can't stop himself from laughing. The sudden Protest could raise few eyebrows (it definitely does raise his) ]

One doesn't exclude the other, though. Why should it even..? Nothing wrong with that. [ He says as he quickly steals some of the flowers Ovelia made herself and weaves them into the crown. Which he hands to her. ]

Have this gift then be of pure loyalty and appreciation then. [ A beat and a tease ] One of romantic pining, should be made with your own hands.

[ Ovelia gingerly took the offered crown, simply staring at it in her hands for a few moments. Her blush hadn't faded, and her fingers trembled slightly. Her chest... really hurt. Like there was just something pressing at the inside of her sternum, but also sank into her stomach. The idea of loving Agrias like that... it brought pain to her. Not the sort she read about in romance books, but something far more keen. Why? Why did it hurt so much? ]

You are right... So this is for the best. The very thought of anything else... clenches at my heart like a vice. I care for it, not...

[ Surely he must have struck the nerve, and he wasn't even teasing very much. He stands up and gives one (1x) head-pat. ]

You can keep telling yourself that if that's what you want. But if it's a lie, you'll just end hurting yourself.

[ If there is a taboo about shinki and gods being together--- he never got the memo. ]

Well, I'm going outside, I gotta feed something.

Multicoloured kindnesses, met by chance, one by one

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