[Action] Maribelle's Tea Shop Grand Opening (Backdated to the 30th)

[grizzly_tea]

Who: Maribelle, her staff, her guests, and YOU!
Where: Genessia City, The Tea Time Cafe
When: 7:AM July 30th to 9PM July 30th
What: It's a bit of a party, people are encouraged to chat up the other people at their tables, and Maribelle's staff members are encouraged to go everywhere!
Warnings: Tea, flowers, frills, pomposity, violin, and maid uniforms.

Maribelle had gone all out with preparing everything for the grand opening and when one opens the door to the shop they will be greeted by the aroma of tea, fine pastries, and the flowers that decorate every table and every wall. Over in the corner of the shop, Maribelle herself is busily playing many classical pieces such as canon in d on her violin, and women in maid uniforms seem to be bustling about, taking orders, seating guests, and delivering tea. Once in a while Maribelle stops her playing to accept requests, questions, and sees to it that everything stays in order.

If a guest were to perhaps be directed to a table, they would find themselves seated in close proximity to Maribelle's violin playing. After one last stirring violin solo, Maribelle takes a moment to take a seat... and wouldn't you know, it's at this very table! "Good day to you, I trust that everything is to your satisfaction so far? If not, please feel free to inform our staff and we'll try our best to accommodate you. My name is Maribelle, and I own this tea shop."

For Maribelle's personal guests
Each guest Maribelle personally invited would have received an invitation before the day of the big event, with her glossy cursive penmanship giving the time for their scheduled appointment. With so many people she'd hoped to invite to the grand opening, it was difficult for her to simply greet all of them when they showed up and make sure everything was running smoothly. You'll find your tables in the comments below.

(ooc: I'm sorry this took me so long to get around to :\ RL stuff kept popping up until the weekend was over and I was days late. Anyways, feel free to backtag into eternity with me. I know I still have old tags owed to people but I really wanted to throw this thing together. Don't feel like you HAVE to reply if you're invited, but I shall now list the guests. Smoker, Kuzan, Adela, Tashigi, Coby, Chrom, Robin, Ike, Micaiah, Lucy, Levy, Weiss, Athena, Chopper, and Yukiko. Pretty much if you've talked with her, feel free to enjoy some complimentary tea... Except Freeza, no tea for tyrants. Maka, Lenalee, and Orihime can also feel free to tag anything and anywhere they like as staff members.)

Comments

[maidaein]

When Micaiah stepped, in, she looked like she was still trying to wake up from an early, long nap.

She had gone back to the pods, and while understanding it wasn't a true escape still yearned to go back to Tellius. The intrigue set by both Ike and Maribelle's words had made her wonder... just what would she need to go through to save Daein? She got her answer the hard way. Only the rise of the goddesses allowed her to try her hand at letting Crimea's forces know that Daein had been tricked into the hands of the corrupt Senate. But Ike knew that already, didn't he?

And now she bet Maribelle did too.

She had merely shown up just to wake herself from that too heavy slumber, and thus hadn't realized that she had actually been invited until she saw a specially marked table. "Ah, this might be an awkward question, but were you expecting me?"

[blue_flames]

Ike, on the other hand, had come, knowing full well that he was invited.

And for once, he actually spent some coin on himself. Rather than wear his armor, though Yune had given him a suit designed to both look presentable and be functional, Ike had on a sleeveless (because his upper arm and shoulder muscles would rip any and all sleeves) blue polo shirt and khakis, and he had to admit, they were more comfortable than he expected. Nothing like the noble clothing he had been forced to wear during the interwar period.

By the time Micaiah found her table, Ike was already seated. He looked up and gave her an affirming nod.

"Seems that way. Did you not get an invite?"

[maidaein]

Micaiah's look from Ike no longer seemed to be on edge... it was a vast improvement from when they first met on Genessia's soil. But she was a little sheepish, as she answered his question.

"Would you believe I came here straight from the Dream Docks? I almost failed to remember Ms. Maribelle's plans," she answered. "I came here mostly because I felt like she expected me, and I learned this place was open through word of mouth (or phone device). I'm sure the formal invite has been given to me somehow." It also didn't help that she had yet to get a full, formal address.

Regardless, she sat down next to him, and decided to wait a bit longer to see how things went.

[blue_flames]

"The Dream Docks, eh?" Ike leaned back in his chair, noticing that Micaiah seemed to be more comfortable around him now. That was good.

"What did you see while you were there?"

If he knew, it would probably make things easier.

[maidaein]

Micaiah took a breath and turned to Ike.

"It was no easy thing. I learned that Pelleas had been tricked by Beginon into signing a blood pact!" She cried. "After that, we had little choice but to aid them, though we searched for a way to end the dirty deed. We could only stall for time, even with dangerous acts.

"However, it seemed that the war had more dangerous purpose... it roused the Goddesses of Chaos and Order. And Ashnera... she had turned everyone outside of our armies into stone! It was awful! But with the majority of those in stone, our army could finally be truthful about what ailed us, at least. When I woke here, that battle hadn't yet finished... but Yune told me we'd be ready," Micaiah finished. "I feel more confident we'll prevail."

[blue_flames]

Ike nodded in response. This was all information he already knew from his own experiences. Carefully, he raised an arm to rest it gently on Micaiah's shoulder.

"It was rough. The period of time during which the rest of the world remained trapped in stone was one of the worst ordeals I've ever faced. But I persevered, and we pulled through. I believe you'll find the same thing in due time."

He finished off what he said with a reassuring smile. "You can trust me on that."

[maidaein]

Micaiah shared his grin. "I feel much more confident about that now."

Of course, there was still Maribelle's assessment, and now she was realizing just how she came to be viewed. "I still don't regret defending Daein, but at least now I have a better understanding of what we've gone though."

But at least she's much more at ease now than she was when she first got here.

[blue_flames]

"You shouldn't. The only people at fault were the Begnion Senate." Ike had personally forgiven them as soon as he learned the truth of the blood pact. More than anything, it served to further fuel his contempt for the Senate in general and Lekain in particular.

"And they'll pay for their crimes. By the time the war is over, they won't be able to threaten anyone with anything."

[maidaein]

Micaiah nodded. "I have full confidence of that. The world depends on it, even if its at a standstill now."

But Micaiah herself has grown a bit. "But while I'm here, I need to be able to make a living here as well. There is the issue with the Hands of Decay. Has there been any progress on them?"

[blue_flames]

Ike shook his head, his smile fading.

"Nothing as far as I know. Of course, I'm not privy to all of the details, but speaking as a common bounty hunter, there hasn't been anything.

"On the bright side, the Hands of Decay haven't acted, either. Things in Fayren have been mostly silent."

[maidaein]

"I will stay alert. In the meantime, since Fayren is so close to home, I believe I'll look for employment on those places."

She looked around. "I wish I came a little better dressed than I have." She hoped Maribelle wouldn't chew her out for this, given that she wasn't sure if she was looking forward to talking about her history again or not.