Love on the Railway!

[trainmasters]

Who: Everyone
When: Day 12, morning into afternoon
Where: the Aurora

[Morning today comes easily, the early stars of a false sunrise shining in with the same cool softness as usual. Though it remains the eternal darkness of the corrupted jungle, it's a little warmer than it's been so far, as if something somewhere is emitting a comforting heat. If you're outside you can hear a faint ringing like the chime of a bell, off in the direction of the beach. It's a bit far to walk through dangerous jungle, but you could try, if you're determined.

Back at the Aurora, however, things are also awfully... cheery. When you wake up in the morning and leave your carriages, you'll find the hallways and public areas lit with tiny pink, red, and golden hearts, shifting and glowing on the walls with no apparent source. On your Chain is a message that comes without any annoying jingle:

Good morning, heroes! You've had a hard time so far, so here's a little gift from me. Today is the Star Kingdom's most lovey-dovey holiday: Heartbeat Festival Day! First, let me tell you the local legend:

"Once upon a time, a beautiful girl lost her home to war. After wandering the universe for awhile, she noticed that the further she traveled, the more a certain pink constellation began to resemble a heart. With no destination in mind, she followed it until she arrived here, in the Star Kingdom. Stopping to warm her hands with a hot drink, by chance she bumped into a handsome young man at the same stall -- a man who happened to be the newly crowned Star King! Under the light of the Heartbeat constellation, the two fell in love at first sight. Their union was blessed by the universe, and when they had a child, she was born with twinkling stars in her hair and eyes. And that's where the royal line got their sparkles!"

The festival is a celebration of love -- for friends, lovers, family, and the whole universe. It's a time to show your appreciation with gifts, kisses, and a whole lotta drinking! We could use some love right now, so even though my kingdom can't celebrate today, you can do it for us.

To foster some affection, the drinks we've provided will give you a bit of a boost... but it's all harmless, I promise! So cozy up and show some affection. If you're lucky, you might stumble into the most heart-racing kind of love: romance!

In accordance with the message, the dining area in the lounge car has plates of various desserts in chocolate or strawberry flavours, and trays of champagne glasses full of drinks with several different colours of edible shimmer. Each one has a different effect, and is more alcoholic than the last:

☆ Gold: Those who drink this sweet, vanilla-flavoured concoction will find their hand gravitates towards the nearest person's. Once you're holding hands you're glued together, for an hour or until you're both having a good time. The drink has a star-shaped charm around the stem.

★ Pink: Strawberry champagne is valentine's Heartbeat Festival in a glass! Drinking it unfortunately roots you in place, along with the first person you see. You're stuck until you share a kiss -- any kind of kiss will do! This drink has a pursed lips charm around the stem.

☆ Red: A bright raspberry liquor, this drink is berry tasty, and makes your heart flutter. After drinking, you'll find your affection for other people enhanced. It's based on what you already feel, so you won't be attached to someone you dislike, but you'll feel extra adoring towards your friends, and any crush you might have will turn into true love! Effects last anywhere from one to four hours. This drink has a heart-shaped charm around the stem.

★ Brown: Though this drink smells and tastes like hot chocolate, it's actually very potent, both in its alcoholic effects and its nudge towards love. Drinking it enhances your desire for physical affection -- platonic or sexual is a real coin toss. Effects last anywhere from one to four hours. This drink has a rose-shaped charm around the stem.

Drinking multiple drinks will stack effects -- you can have all four at once if you like. This will go on til evening -- where something else magical might just happen!]

[[OOC NOTES: This is a harmless cute Valentine's post! It has the potential for NSFW threads, so please be aware, and remember to put a warning in the subject line or move such threads offcomm.

Placements are tomorrow: and with them comes a major IC update! Please look forward to it!]]

Comments

[ruinatings]

Wonderful. Perhaps, if I'm lucky, I'll see you in person.

[crimeson]

I'd like that. It'd be weird to explain, but... I'd like that.

[ruinatings]

Then it's a date.

[Haha.

It's definitely weird to think about, but Rufus isn't complaining (for now). As long as his emotions are in check... just having a friend is okay, right? And of course he intends to keep it entirely under control.

Except he's only halfway into this drink and he's feeling slightly lightheaded. Maybe he should stop.]

[crimeson]

I'll be sure to remember to keep it.

[there's a lot to be considered-- like getting in to see Rufus. not because the guards won't necessarily let him in, but because he doesn't want it to be that the guards will just let in someone they expect to beat the shit out of Rufus. But... there's not much to be done about it now, either, so he'll file it away.]

[ruinatings]

If you don't, I might decide to haunt you.

[He's joking, but also he's slowly leaning over the table, getting closer without noticing it.]

[crimeson]

That jus' sounds like having you to myself~

[also leaning a bit, mostly to chinhands like a little shit]

[ruinatings]

[He's noticed his own movement now! But if he pulls back it'll be like losing, and Rufus doesn't like losing. Besides... for some reason he suddenly really, really wants to touch Randy.]

You really can't help yourself, can you?

[Doing things without calculation is unlike him, but, y'know, magical alcohol. So he's closing the gap, pulling Randy's hands into his and going in for a kiss.]

[crimeson]

I--

[well he's immediately distracted by Rufus like, actually kissing him. and holding his hands! both of those. both of those are supremely cute. he was already DESPERATELY WANTING TO KISS RUFUS but he wasn't gonna, like. act on it. but this is rufus initiating on an extremely small amount of alcohol, so it's probably fine? it feels okay.

so that's all about a split second of hesitation before he's kissing back.]

[ruinatings]

[Rufus is not exactly experienced in kissing, but he is always graceful so it's not the worst. For a few seconds, at least, it's a pretty nice kiss... until his brain catches up and he pulls back really fast.

He hasn't ket go of Randy's hands, though.]

...Excuse me.

[crimeson]

[he will find that Randy is blushing, and smiling gently, and also squeezing his hands just as gently.]

Oh, you're definitely excused.

[ruinatings]

[Aidios he really wants to go for more. But he can recognize something is weird, so even though he, too is flushed, and a part of him is content, the rest is reflexively recoiling at the feeling of lost control.]

...I think that's enough.

[It was in fact too much, so he's trying to pull his hands back and run off.]

[crimeson]

Rufus--

[but he's not gonna force him to stay, so he isn't grabbing on harder, just, calling out as he retreats]

[ruinatings]

I'll talk to you when the magic wears off.

[At least he can give Randy that much! Although he's not sure if it'll make the situation better or worse.

Either way he's escaping to calm down. Except spoilers he's not going to, he's just going to be a jerk.]