SINGLES NIGHT [OPEN EVENT]

Singles Night… sounded just like what JJ was searching for.

It might’ve not sounded like it was something for him, who spent most of his free time reading comics and helping out Illya with her nigh unbearable adventures as an idol. He had made quite a routine for himself after joining Dies Irae and travelling around Earthland as a recently promoted Officer of theirs truly - yup, his work and efforts in retrieving the Blood Sceptre in Motor City as well as his other accomplishments under his Soldier Rank earned him a promotion. After that milestone had been reached, he evaluated his magical prowess and found both his strength and vitality to allow for a handful of new spells to emerge to the surface. He didn’t know exactly why he came up with these specific types of spells, but it must’ve had to do with Al-Kidra back in Desierto… what his training back then did to him was yet foggy, but the fog was settling overtime.

Forget all that; why had he shown up to this Singles Night here in Crocus? Well, for your information, JJ too sought love… simple as that. He, too, wished the good-old, traditional sense of romance and the follow-ups of all that, akin to his two younger brothers who were both married with children awaiting them already when he left his home. Despite being the oldest of three, he was the least experienced in love and romance, falling in love at first sight, speaking a word of vow and upholding a couple’s sacred rights over each other for all time. If he stayed in Desierto, then it was likely a matter of time, but he was yet a foreigner in Fiore, and he had never heard of a Singles Night before… but why not give it a shot?

Standing amidst the bodies pouring into the place, watching the red and golden themes and decorations around, and feeling the aroma hit him like a bat to the face reminded him of the wedding parties back in Desierto… just with more order than those back there. One would have to go home every sandy night with reddened toes from all the stomping, tell ya that much.

With the golden hues, his suit fit just fine. Perhaps a bit too flamboyant, though… but he quickly forgot about that when he heard a voice call to all of them through a microphone from a platform further up. A soft smile emerged when he appeared to have revisited the presence of the helpful Rune Knightess who did him a solid back in the zombified city, Lili. She sounded so excited to be here and wasn’t afraid to put her excitement into words, much unlike JJ who kept a steady hand on his cap as he listened. They escaped quite the close claws of death with the beam that destroyed the city back then, and in a way, he owed his life to her for keeping the elevator door open. He didn’t know if he could’ve survived the ordeal, otherwise, and while it was expected of her as a Rune Knight, he still appreciated the lifesaving.

…

According to her speech, he was to await an organizer to give him a badge, but he could still try out the buffet. His Demon Slayer senses caught the scent of fried chicken, probably the closest thing to his mother’s homemade chicken buns that he adored back at home. He should hurry, though, as he also wanted to catch up to the Rune Knightess and express his gratitude.

WC: 594

A great deal of curiosity filled the body of the small girl. In fact, her form may not be enough to contain all the curiosity she had, whether for good or ill. Akane has been taken by her dark thoughts, by the demons she may or may not have created in her mind. But despite that, she still held a semblance of the young bright-eyed and hopeful girl who had left Midi to pursue her passions and aspirations. Perhaps, this Single’s Night is that part of her taking control.

She had never been around Fiore much. Not even the guild she would come to call home for now. So to sate her inherent curiosity she accepted the invitation to said event, rather unexpectedly at that. She had come in a dress that was surprisingly fit for such an occasion. Given that she did not have any luggage when she disembarked from the ship. No. Perhaps another unfortunate soul had the misfortune of coming across the fair maiden and procured her the victim’s lovely dress afterwards. Or perhaps she had bought it at a store nearby herself, given that she would be seen carrying some sort of purse with her that constantly produced jingling noises indicative of jewels. Nevertheless, she was there, and she was weirdly, happy.

The decorations of red and gold somehow made her partly blend in. Her constant of beautiful crimson eyes and her signature hair tie all matched her surroundings, and now, even her dress played a part. Fiorians swarmed the venue in anticipation and of course, having the host of tonight’s social gathering be as vexing as the one on stage would certainly add to the number of attendants. The woman had a loud and captivating voice that even from where Akane was standing, which was at a corner that had the least lighting of all and furthest away from any source of audio enhancing instrument, she could still hear her. She had explained that some of the people behind the extraordinary event would be approaching them and that they were encouraged to still mingle before that even happened. However, she was not the one to make the first move. Despite her penchant for killing and other sadistic activities, she was still a conservative girl. Rather shy to any approach or endeavor that did not involve siphoning the soul or slowly driving the sanity out of her victim.  No, her other interests would play out which was her observant nature which is certainly crucial to the gathering of knowledge and information, especially. She chuckled at it in fact for it still was the first part in ascertaining what to do with a victim. Perhaps everything is meant to suffer and die if all begins the same way, she thought.

Still, she had settled for less nefarious purposes for now and simply delighted at what she could discern from Fiore’s cultures and customs just by looking at the people that proceeded to take first action. Whether this is how Fiorians really are or most of these people are just anxious to finally have their instinctive pleasure or desires met even for just the tiniest bit, she smiled at it all and murmured. “How cute.”

WC: 537
Personal Total: 537

-Capital Crocus City Hall-

Leona had heard about a Singles Night being hosted in Capital Crocus and had decided to go to it. She did not know what possessed her to do so because she was not interested in romance... at least not yet. She had not found the right guy and did not have very much time to look for romance because being a Guild Mistress and Wizard Saint were full-time jobs for the blonde. However, the Wizard Saint was looking to improve her weak social skills, so off to Singles Night she went.

Now the Wizard Saint was standing in the City Hall wearing her freshly cleaned green, white, and gold outfit with black pantyhose and without any weapons or armor whatsoever. Compared to the attire of the other people here Leona looked rather plain. One dark-haired guy had a white and gold suit with an ocean life theme and another dark-haired girl wore a simple but cute dress. Leona was feeling kind of shabby right now, but it was too late to go back to Silver Wolf Guild Hall and change. Besides, what else was she going to wear?

Leona looked around the city hall and noticed the tasteful red and gold decorations; of particular interest were the floating candles with heart-shaped flames. She did not even know that those existed, but there was a lot the blonde did not know existed. That was part of the reason she so stubbornly resisted her mother's wish for her to return home to start a family. Leona wanted to travel and see the world like her father, not stare longingly at the horizon and know that she would never get to travel beyond the village borders.

Leona turned her thoughts from her mother and of home and turned her attention towards the stage, where a young dark-haired woman in a beautiful dress got on the microphone and spoke to the Singles Night attendees. The young woman looked like that Lilith person who ran the Whispers column of Sorcerer's Magazine, but Leona was not entirely sure if it was her or a double. Lilith was a Rune Knight of some renown and likely had a lot of enemies... the Wizard Saint doubted that the Lilith would host a public event when there was a risk her enemies would try to infiltrate the event to either eliminate her or kill the attendees to get back at her.

If it came to a fight Leona was more than ready to defend herself and others. She did not bring any weapons to the event, but she not need a weapon to kick ass. At this point in her career she was a weapon.

Leona was a lioness who had finally learned the value of patience and the ability to think before acting. She was once an impatient cub who had relied solely on strength to win battles, but after learning some harsh lessons she was now a mature lioness who had a better understanding of how to control the tempo of a battle and no shortage of spells with which to do it. Gone was the "attack at all times" mentality which had marked her earlier days and in its place was a more balanced perspective that valued knowing when to retreat as well as when to attack. Instead of trying to win desperate battles by herself Leona now freely called in her summons to level the playing field... she had learned there was no shame in calling for help.

Leona turned her attention to the young woman's statement that an organizer would be by in a few minutes to give her a badge and wondered if she had made a mistake just by showing up. Leona was the Wizard Saint of Courage, but she was not sure if she was up to this. There were so many people she did not know and her social skills were poor. Then the blonde took a breath and thought it through.

She was the Wizard Saint of Courage. There was more to courage than just fighting against daunting odds. Sometimes courage was the ability to push oneself beyond what one thought they could do.

Despite her apprehension Leona would stay at the event. She set aside all thoughts of leaving early and slowly made her way over to the bar. Maybe they served lime margaritas that did not go heavy on the alcohol. If all else failed she could just get a glass of water. That worked too.

Leona's Outfit (Minus Sword and Shield):

[Post Word Count: 753]
[Leona's Word Count: 753]

It was difficult for the raven haired angel not to inwardly cringe as she glanced around her. There were males absolutely everywhere and Medeia had to do her utmost not to scream in frustration. Still, the free alcohol and the lively festivities more than made up for it so the angel was willing to put up with a little discomfort for that reason. It had been quite some time since she had last attended such an event but she had to admit that they usually ended up being rather entertaining. She did find the idea of a ‘Singles Night” to be rather odd but it was only to be expected. Medeia had never honestly believed in being single or taken anyway, instead preferring to keep a more open minded view on the subject. Why restrict yourself to one companion when you could have more?

Dressed in a red dress that just about kept her assets from becoming public viewing, the dark mage would find herself drifting towards the bar although her purple eyed gaze was constantly on the lookout for a potential partner. She was unsure if she was going to have much luck but it was worth a try and if all else failed, Medeia could always have a little fun with one of her fellow ER mages. They were so wonderfully depraved in their own ways and the witch could not help but be surprised by just how attached she had become to some of them. When she had first entered through the guild doors, she had not expected to form bonds with anyone but here she was now, a mentor and consular to a few of the younger members. It was so bizarre and yet pleasurable too, in a way that she had never experienced in all her long years.

Ordering from the bar, Medeia would turn around so that she could get a good look at the people moving to and fro in front of her, in the slim hope that someone would catch her eye. Yet, despite her doubts, it did not actually take long at all for her slayer enhanced sight to be drawn to a lovely looking girl who came into view. A petite young woman who the angel was certain that she had seen before from somewhere. Ah, of course, that magazine! She was going to perform a duet with the witch’s dear friend, Sakura. That thought only made the chance to speak with the girl more appealing and yet, Medeia had never been the type to just hurl catcalls at those she wished to speak to and so she used a slightly different technique. Focusing on her own magical aura, Medeia would then extend a tendril of it towards the girl, not in an intimidating or frightening way but just enough to try and capture the pinkette’s attention. The angel’s aura was rather potent at this stage and trying to hide her darker leanings was pointless but perhaps a touch of darkness would help draw the girl to her as well, for good or ill.

(515 Words)

@Illya Pegasus

The fried chicken was strong to his Demon Slayer sense of smell. At a point, he was worried that, because of his likely metamorphosis into a Demon Slayer during his training, his senses would render it physically impossible to enjoy such strongly spiced food. He should try it out first, then if he wasn’t able to devour it like usual, then he would have to place all the chicken back-

!

Someone appeared to accidently bump into his person, but he stood his ground and didn’t lose his balance. The person who bumped into him kind of stuck out, especially in close quarters; they were holding a dish filled to the very brim with delights and delicacies to such an extent that JJ wondered out of his mind how the red-haired guy was able to balance it all on one, simple dish. That was some handiwork.

“I’m alright, I’m more worried about your dish - you could end up spilling it all over the floor,” he gently rebuked him for the strange view of the shorter male with all his food, “Are you able to eat all of that?”

WC: 189
TWC: 783

@DOPPO

-At the bar-

Leona sat at the bar and slowly drank a glass of ice water since she did not have the courage to order a lime margarita yet. She wanted one, but since she was in public she had an image as a responsible mage to uphold and that meant not drinking to excess. The best way to avoid drinking to excess was to not drink at all. But Leona wanted a lime margarita.

Leona set the glass of ice water down and looked at the polished wooden bar. Things were about to get philosophical and she was not sure if her brain could handle thinking that deeply. She had seldom explored what she wanted as opposed to what others wanted from her. She knew very well what others wanted from her. They wanted a fearless individual who had all the answers and could solve any problem whether it was stopping a demonic incursion into Earthland or making sure someone had a fun trip to the mall or movie theater.

But what was it that Leona wanted out of life?

She had enormous personal power and a good degree of influence.

She had earned more money than she could ever hope to spend.

She had set up the beginnings of a career as an archaeologist.

She even had friends among her guildmates and a friend among the Wizard Saints.

But there was something missing from that list. Something that would make Leona's life feel complete. But what was that something?

Leona doubted that she could find it here at a Singles Night. What Leona was missing went far beyond issues of not having a significant other. Who knew what it was? The Wizard Saint certainly did not know.

Leona picked up the glass of ice water with her right hand and resumed sipping from it. She was not sure if she had made the right choice in showing up here because there was a lot she needed to do back at the guild hall. She needed to study for her Expert-level Court Heiromesh exam, she needed to learn to use her new Daggerbook, she needed to do more research on Ancient Desierto, and she needed to check the job board to see what else needed doing by a Wizard Saint who was always on the move. If she needed to do all of that, then why was she still here wasting her time and taking up a space that someone else who actually wanted to find a companion could use? Leona had no idea, but she was already here and was committed to staying, so she might as well enjoy the ride.

Leona took another sip of ice water and plotted her next move. Maybe she would check out the buffet table next. Food was always nice.

[Post Word Count: 468]
[Leona's Word Count: 1,221]

Noctis Received a random invitation to some fancy singles mixer; while not a stranger to fancy social events, he was unsure if he even wanted to attend. Most parties of that nature were intended for well, you know, a mingling of romantic nature. Noctis downed what little of the whiskey remained in the glass as he thought the decision over. While he may not attend with the express purpose of finding a date, so to speak, he might be able to gain connections of some nature outside of the romance spectrum.

Noctis decided on attending the worst the could happen is he got to enjoy some free alcohol. He donned his usual attire, consisting of an ankle-length black coat with the lapels being gold and black zig-zag pattern, a black pinstripe vest, a silken gray dress shirt, and black dress pants and black dress shoes.

He briefly looked himself over in the mirror and adjusted his hair beads slightly before nodding and leaving the house. He traveled by carriage to the party as that was his normal travel method when not doing a job or going long distances.

He arrived about twenty minutes later. Entering the main ballroom and examining his surroundings to see all sorts of people dressed in various manners; he simply shrugged, not worried about being overdressed as this was close to his daily attire. Noctis quickly found the bar and ordered what the barkeep recommended a nicely aged 60-year-old scotch with subtle honey and fruit notes.

As he did, someone approached with name stickers and handed him one. 'Oh, it's one of those kinds of parties.' he thought to himself as he wrote his name down vertically on the sticker and tucked it in his pocket with the back still on so only Noctis showed. He finally found a wall to lean against and sip his whiskey while watching people mingle, his ears twitching nervously.

[Noctis Word Count:319]