Singles Night @ Bright Sky Diner

[sonicosuper]

It had started as a joke, but gradually more people were showing interest in the idea, and so Singles Night became a thing. It would be fun, the managers said, and it would hopefully gain some revenue. The event would have been advertised around the city, so when the night came, the staff there were waiting for a good turn out. They'd certainly gone to some effort.

 

MAIN AREA

The main part of the diner had been changed into an area made of larger tables to encourage mingling. Here there were buffet tables set up, and the lighting was warm and friendly. Light jazz music played very softly in the background to keep the atmosphere buzzing and happy. Maybe people would meet the love of their life here, or maybe they'd just meet a new friend.

BOOTHS

The booth along the walls of the restaurant remained as they were, but the lighting above the tables was muted for a more intimate feel. These areas of the restaurant would be quieter and there was no need for anyone to be nearby unless they were seeking a little more peace. These tables are ideal for people who have found someone they'd like to get to know a little better. It's relaxed, but pretty romantic, with candles on the tables too. These booths include table service, with quiet but friendly wait staff.

OUTSIDE AREA

Now this is the special place to be. The outside area of the diner has been transformed into a romantic and cosy place. Fairy lights decorate the fencing, and there are warm blankets on the benches too. This is a perfect place for those who want to cuddle up. After all, what better way to warm up than to sit side by side and admire the stars with the charming stranger you've just met?

[This is a mingle post! Feel free to add your characters anywhere you wish. Good luck on finding the one, making new friends, or trolling the singles. Have fun!~]
 

Comments

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Ohhhh," Koumyou took another sip of his apple cider, "and now you remind me of my son, suddenly."

[treesus]

"How so?" It was his turn to ask that question. Being compared to someone's child was a first, he was more used to being compared to the plants in their yard.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"He's never known if he measures up to his name, either, or rather I suppose he feels the weight and the pressure of it quite keenly. I gave him 'Genjyo' as his holy name, or homyo. It means, essentially, 'to actualize'. Or, more crudely, 'get shit done'."

[treesus]

Trahearne laughed, surprised by Koumyou's bluntness. The priest had been bordering on mysterious and elegant, and then, that. Still elegant, perhaps more approachable.

"I can understand where he comes from, in that regard. Less so for my name than tasks I was assigned." Funny thing, to admit to a Sanzo priest. "I wish him luck with that struggle."

[its_dad_sanzo]

Even little Kouryuu had been quite the snarky little shit. He'd gotten that from somewhere!

"Well, as a Sanzo priest, he certainly has his tasks," Koumyou sighed, knowing he'd placed that gigantic burden squarely on some very small shoulders. If only they'd had more time--!

[treesus]

"I take it these tasks are more than education and a dedication to a deity?" Why would there only be five of them if there wasn't a lot more to it? Trahearne could think of many reasons why that would be, at least in the context he was used to, yet there was probably much more to it than he could imagine.

He offered a sympathetic look at the sigh, this line of conversation had gone into uncomfortable areas for the both of them.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"A Sanzo is the priest tasked with guarding one of the five sutras. I guarded two. My son... I gave him one just before my death, but as my successor, he also is burdened with the one that was on me when I fell. That one... this one, in fact," Koumyou pinched the corner of the sutra draped around his shoulders, "was stolen away by my killers. These are very serious artifacts; it's said that the five combined created all of existence and nothingness, life and death, light and dark... he was thirteen when I died. I hadn't even had the time to give him the basic Sanzo training yet, and all of that came crashing down onto him with his homyo."

Koumyou bowed his head a little, letting his long bangs shield his face. His eyes burned, a little.

[treesus]

"I'm sorry," Trahearne said softly, his voice full of regret. The gravity of the task, that he could relate to and understand, to an extent. But... He had forgotten, for a while, that there were some that came here past their deaths, not just at the brink of it. And that time lines between various people of the same world could differ. That could be difficult to handle, he assumed.

"I didn't want to bring up something so painful. Is there something else we could speak of that would not be distressing?" Or he could just leave. That might do more harm than good.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Ah," Koumyou lifted a hand to brush the dampness from his squinty eyes, and then lifted his head again. His usual smile was in place once more. "Do you like cats? I just adopted one, I named her Mr. Wiggles."

[treesus]

Trahearne smiled, a nervous, kind smile. He wondered how much of Koumyou's smile was real and how much of it was protection. That wasn't his business.

"I'm very fond of cats, actually," he replied, relieved to be on a simpler subject. "I have two, Cookie and Brian. I had three before I arrived on Genessia, I'm finding the transition to life here is easier with companions. Especially of the small and fuzzy variety."

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou did what any proud parent would do, whether of children fuzzy or otherwise. He pulled out his phone and opened the gallery to find an image of Mr. Wiggles. It happened to be of Mr. Wiggles dive-bombing a very displeased Genjyo in the shrine.

"There she is! And my son, who doesn't like cats for some reason." Where had he gone wrong, honestly?

...About cats, that was?

[treesus]

Trahearne leaned closer to look at the phone and put a hand to his mouth to keep himself from laughing. So that was the son that featured in such a sad story and, of course, the cat. Who was being a cat.

"I can't imagine why," he said with his best attempt at maintaining seriousness. Did anyone look happy when being dive bombed by a ten pound furry demon? It was a good thing cats were warm and cute.

"Mine aren't quite so rude to my roommate, though Brian is terrible about jumping out at anyone. I'll have to hope I don't come across your son when I take Brian for a walk."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Well if you do, try to get pictures of the ensuing chase," Koumyou sounded faintly amused at his son's plight. Because really, cats? Cats?

[treesus]

"Mmm, I wouldn't want my cat getting kicked, as funny as unleashing him on someone would be." That plight was amusing, yes, but not worth injuries.

"Do you live in Genessia City? I wager most people here tonight do." It was worth asking, all the same. Maybe he could get away from this event with another friend.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Mm, fair enough, and he can be a bit violent," understatement! "I... do I? Ah! Yes. 'Holly Ridge'."

[treesus]

"I know where that is but haven't been there myself. I'm in the Garden Park apartments, I rather be somewhere with some greenery. For the obvious reason." There was no missing the fact that Trahearne was a plant. The glowing didn't help.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Obvious...? Ohh! Right, because you're a plant!" It sounded like Koumyou had just now noticed.

More than one person in his life had said they couldn't tell if he was brilliant or completely stupid.

[treesus]

Trahearne joined the many that had wondered that about Koumyou before. It was hard not to wonder that when Trahearne had been glowing throughout the entire conversation. Hardly a problem but... wow. Was he being serious or messing with him like Tannu so liked to do?

"Yes, I am. It's nice to be around other plants that aren't either taking orders or trying to kill me."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Are those... common problems with plants?" Koumyou sounded quite concerned!

[treesus]

"When sentience among plant life is common, unfortunately yes." Even more so when you had to lead a whole lot of plants against one really big mean plant that wants the world dead.

"The level of magic and variety of sentient species is very limited on most other worlds that feed this one," he added, his tone a bit dry. This would be the third time the plant thing had come up tonight.

[its_dad_sanzo]

To be fair, Trahearne had brought it up first, this time!

"Magic is hardly lacking where I'm from," Koumyou had already indicated what his sutra was, if not its specific abilities. Still, one fifth of what had created all of that... "but, hm, if there were more sentient species, they would probably just try to eat each other!"

Honestly, there was enough conflict just with humans and youkai. And gods.

[treesus]

"That is a concern and a serious one at that. I don't really consider the state Tyria is in to be preferable. It's just surprising." If Trahearne was being honest with himself, Genessia was far more preferable in general. It still wasn't home and he had too much to do to get too comfortable on this 'vacation'. Trying to stay sane with friends and cats, he allowed himself.

"I wouldn't recommend visiting. I like that, even though many of us would rather not be here, it is peaceful. I'll have to make sure I don't get too used to that." He looked up again briefly, at the stars. It was odd how homesick different patterns of stars made him feel.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Oh? Well, I haven't met anything that could eat me, yet," Koumyou didn't count his death as such, when the target had clearly been Kouryuu. He doubted Ukoku had expected the results that had come of that attack.

[treesus]

"It's not a fun experience to run into someone that could and happily would. The jokes about making salad were also not very entertaining as a sapling." They still weren't very fun but not too many people wanted to make that joke about the marshal. There were very few perks to his position, fewer salad jokes where one of them.

"Most people here don't seem interested in ripping others apart. I like that."

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou laughed a little at that. "Just avoid a certain someone..." and he described Ukoku's 'Ni' persona. "He wants to eat everyone. Or get eaten by them. No in-between. And he specializes in ripping people apart with his chi."