Tanabata Ball

[memento_mods]

Who:Anyone who wants to attend (Please sign up here if your characters are attending, if you haven't done so already)
What:Tanabata ball
Where: The park
When: July 7, at 9:00 P.M.
Warnings: Nothing above PG-13. Take anything else to journal posts.

Comments

[trouser_chimp]

Ritsu was at the food table, dressed beautifully in a new yukata. Though the feel of the clothing meant for women normally comforted him, he was still a nervous wreck as of right now. For you see, he wanted a way to thank Beauty Queen Etna for even considering him being a date, and the only thing he could think of to please her was to get her something to eat.

Problem was... he didn't know what she liked. A wrong choice would no doubt send him spiraling into a screaming depression. He fidgeted, moving back and forth, up and down, sweating at the difficult choice he thought he had to make.

[thelostseraph]

"I sincerely hope you are not here with the demoness."

The angel appeared with a plate piled high with food, wings crossed behind his back as he gave Ritsu a raised-eyebrow glance. Though he didn't feel any particular sense of compassion for the neurotic young man, it was his job, after all, to protect the world from the workings of the evil ones. That meant Etna. The 'Prince', as well. Admittedly, they did precious little that could be truly construed as evil, but he figured taking advantage of Ritsu would count. The boy was brain-damaged enough.

And besides, it would be interesting to see whether or not he turned into a monkey again.

"And if you are," he continued, "I rather expect she would enjoy some of everything. Gluttony is a sin, after all."

[trouser_chimp]

Ritsu nearly fell over from shock, whipping around to look at Ledah. "I'm sorry!"He said immediately, already filled with guilt and self-loathing for whatever he'd done. "I'm sorry for not knowing if Beauty Queen Etan has taken me on for her date or not! She did not give me in the information, but there is no doubt she has chosen someone more worthy of her time!"

He took a few breathes after that rant, and then realized the second piece of information Ledah had given. Gasping at his own stupidity, he shrieked, and grabbed a plate, proceeding to try and fill it with everything possible."Of course! How could I not have realized that if I picked everything, she would at least like one thing on there! I really am the most stupid fool to have ever existed!"

((ooc: Holy crap,Ledah is male? XDDDD I had no idea!))

[thelostseraph]

((Which is why he was hardly in the position to say anything about Ritsu's gender-ambiguity. =P ))

He sighed. It seemed impossible to converse with the boy without activating the triggers that led into a full blown breakdown. Perhaps they could try some method of psychological treatment -- 'I am a strong, confident, assertive person'. Repeat 1000 times, or until you believe it.

"Calm down. You will spill everything if you attempt to pile it onto one plate. And for a more serious suggestion, have you thought of asking 'Beauty Queen Etna' what she prefers?" His guess? Bone marrow and the skulls of prematurely born infants.

[trouser_chimp]

This only led to further panic, dropping the food in his hand in horror as he struggled to hold the already full plate. "I'm sorry! I only continue to make disgusting messes where I go! I make filth with every step I take, for I am the most putrid of all beings!"

Sniffling, on the verge of tears, he did his best to hold onto his plate. "As for your suggestion... I'm sure if I asked, I would only bother Beauty Queen Etna, and I'm positive she would think even more negatively of me. All I do is get in everyone's way."

[thelostseraph]

And once again, he had found himself in the position of 'guardian' to a neurotic man dressed up as a woman in the middle of a large social event. At the very least, he was comforted by the thought that he had brought it upon himself this time. Also that he wasn't superglued to anyone. "Calm yourself!" Ledah repeated his words a bit more forcefully, then reluctantly sighed again as Ritsu displayed even more panic.

When next he spoke, he attempted to do so as gently as possible. The result was rather strained. "Allow me to take your plate. Now breathe. No one will think any less of you; pull yourself together and attempt to enjoy yourself. This is an event at which we are meant to . . . have fun." The last two words were spoken rather dubiously. "And Beauty Queen Etna would certainly appreciate that you had attempted to please her to the best of your ability."

[trouser_chimp]

Fortunately, the gentle approach seemed to work on the trembling young man, as he was silent for a moment. He swallowed back an urge to cry, and, reluctantly, held out his plate for Ledah to take.

"I'm sorry, Ledah..." he murmured softly, taking deep breaths as per the orders given. "...But that is very kind of you to say. This pathetic soul is greatly comforted by the words I could never earn from such a a generous person."

[thelostseraph]

He sighed in some relief. If Ritsu had continued to carry on the way he'd been going, Ledah's plan had been to quickly fly away while the boy's back was turned. And then pretend it had all been a hallucination on Ritsu's part when next they met. Not exactly honorable, but at least not quite so embarrassing.

He could see now, why Etna had chosen Ritsu as her number one prospect for a date. Show even the smallest semblance of kindness, and one was exalted for beyond one deserved. Hint that one's happiness depended on a certain thing being done such and such a way, and Ritsu would certainly rush to do it so as not to be a complete failure. It was quite pathetic, really.

"You must learn something about self-confidence sometime." He began to rearrange the food on Ritsu's plate such that it was more balanced as he spoke. "But I suppose this is neither the time nor the place. At the very least, hold some reserve in regards to what you hear the demoness say. She is a demoness for a reason, after all."

[trouser_chimp]

Ritsu watched carefully as Ledah rearranged things, each small movement a dagger in his heart. Of course, why didn't he put the food in the same way the first time? He hated himself for being such a fool. He guessed that Ledah probably loathed him with every fiber of his being, with good reason.

"But she is a most kind demoness..." Ritsu said quietly, almost inaudible, afraid to offend Ledah by somewhat disagreeing with him."She looks upon this awful face, and calls it 'good looking'... she graciously offered for us to be dates, so I would be alone..."

[thelostseraph]

Ledah paused, the fork halfway through a piece of what he assumed to be some sort of meat. " . . . Perhaps so. She is certainly far more agreeable than the demons from my own home." Finishing up the last of the rearrangements, he returned the food to the boy. "She remains, however, a demon, and you will forgive my opinions regarding that class of creature, myself being what I am." He hesitated a bit, wondering if, perhaps he had come on a bit too sharply. "Though I suppose you are right. She is adequately described as a 'kind demoness'."

Picking his own plate back up from the table, he began to transfer some of his own food over to the boy. "And your face is quite adequate for a human's. I do not know what you mean."

[trouser_chimp]

Ritsu seemed to be awe-struck that Ledah was returning some of the food to him. How wonderfully kind Ledah was! But then he realized he was still being spoken to, and quickly snapped his head to attention at his own faults. "Of course I forgive you, Ledah! I'm the one that should be begging your forgiveness!"

Another deep breath... he was needing a lot of them."You are so free and gentle with your words, none that I could ever hope to truly earn. It is like the old saying, 'you can't judge a book by its cover' - though I may appear adequate, the obvious truth is that I'm an ugly wretch on the inside."

[thelostseraph]

Inwardly, he sighed again. He seemed to be doing quite a lot of that tonight. There was simply nothing he could possibly say that would result in a normal response from the poor boy. Perhaps if they talked about the weather . . . But no. It would be such a clear night that Ritsu was unworthy of standing in it; it ought to be blizzarding atop his heinous head.

"I do not see what your insides have to do with anything. We were speaking of your outside, which was considered 'good-looking'." This was the most he could venture without beginning to delve into the subject of Ritsu's personality, which, he felt, could not be adequately described by any word currently known in any language.

[trouser_chimp]

Feeling a tinge of braveness, he began to slowly eat the food on his plate, taking thoughtful chews as he watched Ledah's face. He didn't want to eat too little and waste the precious food they were given. Yet he didn't want to eat too much, and hog it all.

He swallowed, and seemed to smile genuinely at the fact. "You are right, Ledah. I was foolish to imply otherwise."

[thelostseraph]

A sigh of relief this time. This was a fairly good step. Now he simply had to guide Ritsu towards a group of his friends, and he could rest knowing he had done a good deed. Of sorts. Actually, he wasn't sure whether locating food for a demon could be considered a good deed. He'd have to look that one up. Unobtrusively, Ledah began to take small steps towards the dining tables, beginning to chew slowly on a piece of rice cake.

"Good. Now that you have accomplished your objective . . . perhaps you ought to seek out the demoness with your offerings."

[trouser_chimp]

After making sure the food wasn't poisoned - as that had been why he was eating the food - he nodded in agreement to Ledah's suggestion. "She is probably already fed up with waiting for me, and I had best find her before she hates me any further." This was said in an almost cheery voice. He glanced around, for any sign of his 'date'.

[hailbeautyqueen]

Etna had made her decision.

She knew the ball roughly a year ago awarded gifts to couples who had attended. Refusing to allow herself to be beaten and lose the opportunity to get...something, she needed someone to act as the other half of the couple. Though no one would likely ever be worthy of her genuine affection, Ritsu was quite a good compliment to her. Pathetic, willing to do anything, will suck up to her at any given moment--he was perfect! Plus, he was cute and did look nice in a dress.

Etna, shockingly, was wearing what one would consider actual clothing rather than strips of leather: her own yukata. She silently hovered behind Ritsu for a moment before grinning and shouting, "Hey there~"