[open] they're playin' my song, I know I'm gonna be okay

[babbylon]

Who: Gilgamesh and everybody! Seriously, everyone's welcome to tag in.
When: Shortly following the Heroes' return from the dungeon.
Where: Carnival Phantasm, Caissa
What: It's a threeway mingle for Caissa's hottest businesses: Carnival Phantasm, Independent Action, and Heaven's Feel. Come get a taste of each!
Rating: General audiences, most likely.

Welcome to Caissa!



CARNIVAL PHANTASM

[Today, Carnival Phantasm has its doors open to the public. The fake sakura tree in the room seemed to be blooming through the power of some magic and the combination of sakura petals and glitter added to the festive atmosphere. Irisviel was quite serious when she meant for the place to have a party, fantastical feel. The smell of tea wafted through the air, the music played gently in the background and everything was set for Caissa's First Maid and Butler Cafe.

In the welcoming area would be the stations for Heaven's Feel and Independent Action that were set up for Gilgamesh's and Caren's businesses. A sign up sheet was also present on the wall for anyone interested for jobs at the cafe.

The proprietor herself was dressed in her maid outfit, flitting between the welcoming area, seating area and kitchen. She was also making sure that her platoon of maids and butlers were doing well and the customers were satisfied. If anyone was causing trouble, Irisviel would descend upon them and rain down the punishment of the heavens (in other words, throw them out or let Nobunaga get to them).

At the back of the cafe was a small stage. Whenever a substantial crowd of people had gathered during the festivities, Irisviel would step forward with a microphone and make a short speech addressing them all.

"Hello everyone, thank you for coming and supporting Carnival Phantasm! This wouldn't have been possible without the help of Caren and Gilgamesh, so please patronize Independent Action and Heaven's Feel as well. So please enjoy the food and drink, challenge your maids and butlers to a round of games or take a picture—I guarantee that Carnival Phantasm will take you away from the real world for a brief moment to somewhere fantastical! Kyu~~n. ♡"

And so the festivities would continue.]

INDEPENDENT ACTION

[Caren's station in the Carnival Phantasm may seem to be understated compared to the others. Instead of fancy glitter or anything similar, she's gone with an understated look. Crates have been placed around, and while some of them are clearly for atmosphere (they have rocks if anyone peeks inside) there are others that hold containers for tea, new tea pots, flasks, and various assorted items. What’s with those strange looking flowers...?

There is a tea station set up in front of the crates, with seating area around it. All tea samples are free! While they rotate throughout the day with other teas (Manatea and Enchantea being the most notable), there are the teas that are made for Carnival Phantasm and Heaven's Feel. Dirtea is made with Carnvial Phantasm in mind, which is a vanilla oolong that cleanses your heart and mind. Connectivitea was made for Heaven’s Feel, and is a black tea and chai blend, with cinnamon, cloves, and has golden glittery hearts that make the tea into a golden experience.]

HEAVEN'S FEEL

[Gilgamesh has gone all out for his station, suited to his ostentatious personality. He's cordoned off a section with golden streamers and designated it as a "speed dating" area, so those interested can fill out their own cards and get matched on the spot with their fellows! Tasty cakes and pastries are provided free of charge, and there are also a few representatives floating around to offer information about the business. Naturally, Gilgamesh is on call to assist with any and all needs, dressed in a stunning number of his own.

But it's not all romance! Anyone seeking friendships, business partners, and beneficial alliances are encouraged to make use of their services and sign up. Every so often Gilgamesh can be seen hosting fun games, too, such as musical chairs and trivia. Although much of the trivia curiously seems to be centered around Gilgamesh himself...

Gilgamesh is easily the most boisterous among the three, so if you're not doing anything, expect to get pulled over into his general sphere of influence.]

(( More info about the featured businesses can be found on their respective pages, as linked. Don't forget to fill out a card with Heaven's Feel while you're there! Just to clarify, this log takes place at Carnival Phantasm; all businesses are represented in the same area, so feel free to tag among the stations however you please! Get out there and mingle, guys!

As a final note, all business are also open to hiring! If you're interested in employment, just check out those pages and sign right up. ))

Comments

I

[maidhem]

I don't know who told you that,

[Felicia chimed up from behind, distracted from her admiration of all of the pretty cakes now by the young lady who was trying to wear stockings over armor for some reason.

She didn't even try to make sense of it.]

Stockings are a necessary part of the uniform because they help you keep warm in the winter and preserve your dignity. It's embarrassing to be so exposed-- although the public baths where you can relax with people of the same gender is the exception.

But....see?

[Felicia picked up the hem of her long skirt a few inches, just so the other woman could see the stockings she was wearing underneath it.]

It's really pretty normal. Lots of girls wear them!

I

[seventhgen]

[Aigis turns to see who had spoken from behind her. It's a girl whose face she doesn't recognize, but she seems to look like another hero.] I see... is that even the case if I don't have any particular need for warmth in the winter or the preservation of my dignity?

I'm not embarrassed if I'm not wearing any clothing.

[maidhem]

[This girl must be from a strange culture, Felicia decided. Almost every woman she'd ever met had been sensitive about being seen unclothed, and they all banded together to throw out the men-- even Lord Corrin-- who happened to wander into the hotsprings when it wasn't their turn.]

Well, [Felicia began,] Do you like looking cute like that? Even if you're not embarrassed without them, how do they make you feel?

[seventhgen]

Hmmm... [Aigis seems to think, tapping a white-gloved finger against her chin in what is very much a pensive pose, almost stereotypically so.] I do like looking at this, but it may be because I feel that like this, I'm aesthetically pleasing to others?

Perhaps I should try to enjoy these clothes for their own inherent value.

Sorry this took so long. A fall bug bit me something fierce.

[maidhem]

[Felicia couldn't help but smile at those words.]

Sometimes that's all you need. Confidence can be as cute as any shoes or skirts you wear-- and, as long as you feel 'cute', then you're going to be 'cute'!

...Does that even make sense

I hope you're feeling better!

[seventhgen]

[Again, Aigis thinks.] I think so?

You're saying that regardless of my actual appearance, the confidence itself becomes attractive in its own way?

But what if I were to be very not cute, while simultaneously believing myself to be?

It's not perfect, but mostly is good enough!

[maidhem]

I think you'd still be pretty cute.

[There was no hint of teasing at all in her smile-- her sentiments were genuine. After all, funny looking dogs and babies were cute-- why couldn't someone else not conventionally 'cute' still be 'cute'.]

[seventhgen]

[The smile Aigis gives her in response is full and genuine.] Thank you! I'll be sure to keep that in mind!

Even if I'm a machine, I can still be considered cute!

[maidhem]

A machine?

[Immediately, Felicia's mind flitted toward the only machine she knew-- those magic boxes with windows that gave snacks when certain buttons were pushed, which some people called a 'vending machine']

You don't look very much like a machine, Miss. You look like an ordinary young lady to me.

[seventhgen]

--oh, yes! I can understand the confusion. I was designed to look and behave like a human being. [She reaches out to take one of Felicia's hands in hers. Even though she's wearing a glove, Felicia can surely feel that whatever's beneath it is cool and hard, rather than warm and fleshy.] But despite appearances, I'm a robot. It's okay. I've accepted that I am a robot. Not being human doesn't bother me.

[maidhem]

Whoa...

[She did notice the distinct oddity of this young woman's hands-- they reminded her of the frigid stones of her homeland, of metal left in the store room over the winter, of a precious statue that, somehow, had been granted consciousness and the ability to speak.

Felicia squeezed her hand back, and looked fervently into the woman's eyes.]

I don't know what a robot is, but it's okay if you're one. You're still as nice and as cute as any other girl to me!

[seventhgen]

[That is something of an intense gaze, Felicia! Aigis is actually slightly intimidated! She blinks (itself a learned response, since her eyes don't get irritated) and leans slightly back.] O-oh, thank you, I... [She wants to tell her what a robot is, but wait.] Erm, are you... accustomed to finding girls cute? I don't have any real mark by which to judge that claim.

[maidhem]

I think anyone can be cute-- from scary soldiers with a sweet temper to little kittens.

[Surprise colored Felicia's face, for she had meant her comments in complete innocence...]

Is there something strange about that.

[seventhgen]

Oh, I don't know if there's anything strange about it!

[Aigis says, in complete seriousness.] My experience with human sexuality and romance has been very limited. So it's entirely possible that your tastes are completely normal!

[maidhem]

I don't have much experience, either.

[Felicia seemed....a little too chipper to be making that confession, and scratched her cheek sheepishly.]

I mean...I haven't spent much time outside of the castle I serve in until recently, so I'm still learning a lot myself.

[seventhgen]

You grew up in a castle? [Aigis thinks about that for a moment, and then says, her expression very serious.] Are you, perhaps, a princess or some other member of royalty?

[maidhem]

Oh, no, no!

[Felicia shook her head vigorously.]

I'm just a maid...and sometimes a bodyguard if my Lord needs help. It's nothing nearly that special at all!

[seventhgen]

Oh, I see. You were a maid. [A short pause.] --a maid to a member of royalty!

[maidhem]

It's really not that special!

[Felicia protested, finding herself flushing underneath the compliments.]

I'm just a maid, that's all. I do laundry, I clean, I deliver the tea...

[seventhgen]

To royalty!

[Again, she's pretty adamant about it.] Royalty is very rare where I'm from! Most countries don't have royal families anymore, or if they do, they're largely ceremonial.

[maidhem]

Eh??

[Felicia just tilts her head, not sure what to make of this information.]

That....that makes no sense. Who takes care of the country, if not for the King?

[seventhgen]

Elected officials, mostly. Japan uses a parliamentary system, but countries like the United States elect a President directly.

[maidhem]

Pre-si-dent?

[It was a strange word for her to hear-- and she had no idea what to make of it!]

People really live without kings in other realms, though. That....wow, that's so strange and neat!

[seventhgen]

Yes. The people of the nation all vote for the person they want to be their leader, who serves for a limited number of years and then steps down, and at that point they choose a new leader. Usually, there is no relation to a prior leader, at least not by blood.

It is a very common system of governance where I come from! There are still some monarchies, but they are rare and largely ceremonial. For instance, Japan still has an Emperor, but the day-to-day running of the nation is done by parliament and the Prime Minister.

[maidhem]

Oh~!

[Felicia tugged at her skirt, fretting now as she pondered over everything that Aigis was telling her.]

There's so many details about so many different places....how's anyone supposed to remember all of it!

[She wasn't sure....but she would definitly try!]