It's Valentine's!

[catchingspirit]

An odd thing has happened in this corner of the moonlocket space. Everything imaginable for a stereotypical Valentine's Day is available.

A row of stores lines the street, boasting wares from chocolate (for those girls too lazy busy to make it by hand) to jewelry. For those interested in a hands-on and do-it-yourself approach, there is even a building

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[jealousyborn]

A young girl has gravitated towards one of the kitchens, where she proceeds to take out everything she'll need for chocolate-making. Admittedly, the recipe she has in mind is a fairly simple one. The recipient she has in mind is probably the surprise. She owes a Jadeite for a gift he gave her.

Before long, the chocolate is heated to perfection. She pours it, and puts all of it aside to cool and harden. Once the liquid finally sets, she arranges the pieces tidily, displaying them to advantage in a small, wrapped box.

She's looking somewhat pleased with herself.

[jealousyborn]

It's a little intimidating to have to explain what she's doing. There are two large sets of chocolates, and one of these she holds out to Jadeite.

"You can take this one," she says. "I made it for you." For a reason she's not quite sure of herself. Why chocolate? Why right now particularly? And why did she manage to find the perfect place for it completely randomly?

Something doesn't make sense, but at least it's in a very nice way.

[pink_is_back]

Sitting in a small cafe along the street is Black Lady. She's dressed in what would be best described as a gothic lolita style dress, complete with petticoat, headdress, socks, and appropriate shoes. Rather than standing out, she blends rather well into this particular cafe.

Upon the table before her, a large pink cake, and two smaller cakes beside it. A number of gifts are sitting around, as well as donuts and shiny pink bat-shaped balloons. She seems a bit confused as she looks over the table, but there's something familiar about it just the same.

[illuminedshield]

Have a Mamoru walking down the street oh-so-casually until he realizes he's in a part of town he never... knew... existed.

This again?

Before much longer, he spots someone sitting at a cafe. The cake looks good, too. Very pink. In fact, everything about the girl sitting at the table seems to be pink. He can't quite hide a smile.

He hasn't met Chibi-usa yet in his world, and Black Lady obviously hasn't happened yet either in that case. So to Mamoru, there's just a pretty girl he wouldn't mind meeting. What? It's not cheating. Really. His head turns some as he passes by.

[pink_is_back]

Someone went through a lot of time making these things, but the name written upon the tags was unknown to her. That didn't matter, they were made out to her... using, that name she hadn't needed to use recently. Was someone from her world here, after all. Cautiously, she began to open a package, while glancing around for anyone suspicious.

That's when she spotted Mamoru. The box in her hands fell to the table, her crimson eyes never leaving him as he walked by. She felt... angry, yet glad to see him. She couldn't quite give the feeling a name, but her outward appearance was one of surprise and intrigue more than anything else.

[illuminedshield]

He's experienced enough in social situations and the Nexus to realize that look is one of recognition. Since he doesn't know her, Mamoru assumes Black Lady knows an alternate of him from a different world.

"Good afternoon" he greets her politely anyway; there's no reason not to.

A kitchen set up for chocolate-making

[waterfell]

Mercury is here! She's happily busy working on...

Making chocolate. Yes, seriously. Traditions die very very very hard for this girl, and she has a group of boys men boys she feels a lot of gratitude towards and that she wants to do something for. She's good at small gestures.

This, she manages to do well; it's closer to cooking than baking and just a matter of keeping a close eye on the candy. Nothing too intricate or fancy, but there's a small package for each shitennou from her world and a few boxes lounging around.

Come collect them, boys.

[strengthproven]

Nephrite's always been a bit partial to sweets. So when he finds Mercury, and chocolates... well, it's a good combination.

"Ah! Hello, Mercury."

[waterfell]

She should have known: make good-smelling sweets, and certain younger shitennou will appear. She glances away to hide a brief grin at his expense that Nephrite may not appreciate.

Mercury's own reaction to the meeting is somewhere between awkward, pleasant, happy, and still not quite sure of herself in these situations. Nonetheless, she holds out one of the packages to Nephrite.

"Go ahead," she invites.

[strengthproven]

First the soup, and now the chocolates. Mercury was definately spoiling her the boys.

Nephrite glances to the package at first, then takes it from her hand. "If it's anything like your soup, it'll be good, I'm sure."

[plantmistress]

Lulu has set up a small cart along the street, upon which are several buckets of long-stem roses in a rainbow of colors. The woman is dressed in a cute, yet conservative dress, wearing a red heart pin and a pink rose pinned to her chest. Valentines is a good time to sell roses, especially to those last minute shoppers who didn't plan ahead. She sits quietly, typing at her laptop, as she waits for customers.

[dress_up_botany]

Where there are flowers, Shin is not likely to be far away. In fact, he's here right now, approaching the booth to greet Lulu with a warm smile.

"Good afternoon. Those flowers look very healthy." Yes, healthy, not beautiful. Fellow botanists, unite.

[plantmistress]

The former Witches 5 botanist looks up from the screen as she becomes aware of a person standing near. At first, she believe it to be a customer, but once her eyes fall upon the man standing before her, she feels her cheeks redden just a tiny bit. She looks to the flowers, plucking a pink rose out without giving it much thought, and holds it in her hand.

"Good afternoon. It's good to see you again." She holds out the rose as an offering. "Thank you. I only wish for them to bring happiness and joy to those who lay eyes upon them."

[dress_up_botany]

How can he not buy a rose when it's being held out by such a pretty girl? Yes, he's missed any hint of it being a gift.

"How much are they? I will buy... one dozen" he decides. Why not? They're in full bloom and health, obviously very well-tended by their vendor, and they will brighten his house.