2025-11-13: Summer Bar Fun
- Log: Summer Bar Fun
- Cast: Eveline Deschamps, Ruzica Crvena, Yua Ooshiro, Vivienne Sournois, Rain Summers, Alain Wakamatsu, Yanagi Nagisa, Remi Ryuuja, Miho Ijuuin, So-young Park, Pernelle, Umie Akabane, Tamaki Uchida
- Where: Kagurazaka - Fleur de Lis
- OOC Date: November 13, 2025
- IC Date: August 10, 2012
- Summary: Fleur de Lis, a French bar and bistro in Kagurazaka, hosts a trivia contest. Multiple Persona Users (and an Awakened peacock, and an American) show up for drinks, as Resonance flares and surprise trivia upsets create a fun night for all.
(|======================== Kagurazaka - Fleur de Lis =========================|) -===================================================== Tokyo/Shinjuku Ward ====- Fleur de Lis is a French-style bar and bistro in Kagurazaka, Tokyo owned by Eveline Deschamps. It was designed to be reminiscent of classical-style bars in Paris that had been around for generations. Although it is a relatively recent bar, the rich history it conveys gives one the vibe that many intimate meetings and conversations have taken place here. When one walks in, soft piano music is the first thing they'll hear, courtesy the piano player at the rear of the building. Gentle clinking of glasses being washed and plates being served can often be heard, while a bartender is always ready to serve drinks. The atmosphere is bright, classical lighting, with woody reds and browns, the dining area on one side and the bar on the other. It's a lively enough place, with regulars nursing drinks and servers dishing out hot sandwiches and pommes frites. It's a fairly casual bar at night, with trivia events and other gatherings. During the Dark Hour, however, the bar stays open, catering to the Awakened and providing a neutral meeting ground where fighting is strictly forbidden. Teenagers are allowed during the day to eat, though are often turned away at night... unless the proprietor knows one to be Awakened or they are with one who is Awakened, in which case, they look the other way. This is in part to learn more about other members of the Awakened community, and in part because it allows a sense of camaraderie between the unique. Even so, teenagers are never given alcohol under any circumstances, though non-alcoholic cocktails are on the menu. <Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
Fleur de Lis is a French bar and bistro in Kagurazaka, Tokyo, reminiscent of the kind of old style bars that secrets were shared in, a distinctly European vibe to it.
Fleur de Lis is not well-known... yet. Some may have heard rumors of it being open certain days during the Dark Hour, but unless they've been there themselves, they cannot prove that.
Eveline Deschamps, owner and bartender, has set up an event to make them more popular, using the height of summer. Using ads created by her daughter, Yuri, and her ward, Ruzica, with mouth-watering photos taken by the latter, Eve has set up the bar side of the establishment this early evening for fun and games. A dart board has been set up, tables have been arranged for cards and dice (strictly no gambling), and a trivia contest is promised to occur.
Drinks and certain food items like hors d'oeuvres and sandwiches are half-off for the duration of the event, so it's sure to be a good time.
Eve herself is a short woman with short-ish blonde hair, a white dress shirt with a dark vest, and a pair of square-frame glasses covering green eyes. She's lithe and athletic, a gymnast's frame. She's been migrating from behind the bar to the front of house at different times, making sure everyone here for the event is decently cared for.
People have been coming in and out all night, and the activity is pretty good. But trivia's starting soon... who will show up?
<Pose Tracker> Ruzica Crvena has posed.
One of the serving staff today at the Fleur de Lis is... Ruzica Crvena!!
Ruzica's a young woman with long black hair, tied up in a high ponytail, from which large, cold golden eyes peek from beneath her long jet-black fringes. She's dressed in a red dress shirt with suspenders, and black pinstripe dress pants, worn pressed and fastidious as to capture the look of a high-class front of house member at a classy restaurant.
She's pretty average for a Japanese teen, at 156cm, with a slight build.
> You spent the evening working at the Fleur de Lis serving the mythical creatures known as the GROWN-UP...
> Your Guts slightly increased. But your guts are still hungry...
"`Welcome to the Fleur de Lis`," she crisply greets people in French at their tables. "May I take your order?" she speaks fluent Japanese and French, able to Toby Fox her way through sets of entirely different phonemes without breaking a sweat as she pours water and gets tables started, delivering menus and listening to concerns and special requirements attentively.
"We have an excellent croissant sandwich served with genuine `jambon de bayonne` and a quartet of French cheeses... the burger is also done to medium-rare perfection, on a brioche bun made daily by Patisserie Kurayama down the street. And the house cocktail, made by our own Eveline Deschamps, comes highly recommended..."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yua is a fan of Kagurazaka, though it was likely Remi who told her about the Fleur de Lis. Now that Miho and Yua are back from London, though -- it's certainly time to celebrate, so they've all come out here!
Well... it was going to be all of them, but... Myunghon never managed to make it.
... Yua assured her best friend and her partner that it was fine, and they didn't need to know what was keeping them.
She steps into the bar dressed in her usual black leotard, skirt fluttering down to her knees -- though she's wearing flat shoes with good ankle support, rather than pointe shoes, and they're coupled with compression socks. Her dark teal hair is pinned up in a neat bun, exposing the eyepatch which covers her left eye and her darker, tawny skin. Her right hand sports a black fabric decoration stretched from a ring around her middle finger to a bracelet around her wrist; her left hand sports a few fine bangles of their own, gold and studded with garnets, matching her choker and her earrings and her one crimson eye.
... and on her left ring finger -- a mokone gane engagement ring.
She is, of course, the part-time dance instructor who appears once a week at Shujin to engage school refusers in a special program to help them attend class more often. She appears to be a totally normal woman with no Resonance to speak of... because, of course, she is expert at hiding it.
"Oh, this atmosphere is lovely!" Yua exclaims, walking in beside Miho -- though not grasping her, of course, they are in public. "`A croissant sounds fabulous... but nothing alcoholic for me, please,`" she asks of Ruzica, in really rather good French, when she floats over to them. "`Perhaps some juice...?`"
She smiles, looking over to Remi. "Ah, you see... surprise!" She throws up her hands, fingers curled. "I'm a few weeks along now... fingers crossed!!"
<Pose Tracker> Vivienne Sournois has posed.
The Fleur de Lis is a frequent haunt of Vivienne's. It's in the area... and it happens to be run by a long-time friend. That there's a Big Event occurring tonight is all the more reason for her to drop by - she's always been a social butterfly, worming her way into social situations. There's bound to be lots of people there, and with the promise of fun and games, it should make for a delightful time.
She even agreed not to cheat this time!
"You've certainly gone all out tonight, haven't you?" Vivienne says brightly, waltzing onto the scene. Her black and white dress evokes the colors of a film reel, a pair of large, round glasses resting on her face and a beret perched atop her head. "Wonderful to see you again, Eveline, darling - and you too, of course, Ruzica!"
She moves to talk a seat at one of the tables and is immediately interested when food and drink is asked.
"My, I think my heart is singing for that croissant sandwich... I think I must, yes, if you would!" Vivienne decides, when her order is asked for. "And the house cocktail, of course."
And with that, she settles in to see who else arrives, curious to observe the turn-out.
<Pose Tracker> Rain Summers has posed.
Rain, had, of course, passed by the Fleur de Lis every so often when conducting business in Kagurazaka, but had never had time to step in. But, the place was doing an event on her night off, and she figured to herself, hey, what the hell? Get away from the stress of the company books for a bit and unwind.
~~If only there was a way to get away from it forever~~
She shakes her head as she stands at the entrance, attempting to get the intrusive thought out of her mind. This was exactly why she needed to relax. Things were getting to her... She centers herself and enters.
Rain was used to sticking out like a sore thumb in Japan, usually the tallest in the room, and the purple/green dyejob and flowery aloha shirt didn't help either. She looks around the bistro, taking in the atmosphere. A little high class for her taste, but not bad. Finding a table, she squeezes into a chair, raising a hand to the serving girl. "Burger and a cocktail sounds good!"
<Pose Tracker> Alain Wakamatsu has posed.
Scrub, scrub, scrub.
It's part of the closing checklist. Not that he needs to look at it. Today, he was making certain all the equipment was spotless.
Really, it's because he was avoiding what comes next, after closing. But there was really no avoiding it, was there? He would not disappoint her...
He hangs up his apron, and takes off his coat. Then buttoning up a shirt over his tank top beneath, he makes himself... well, presentable.
There's still a dusting of flour on his pants, as he leaves for the night.
It's for that reason that he arrives late, tonight, hands in his pockets as he comes through the front door, and stares at Ruzica resentfully for half a heartbeat while she describes the 'special offerings' - and the ingredients, before he looks away; instead stepping past the party arrangement towards the founder of the feast tonight.
"Bonsoir... Eve." In comparison to her, he towers over her - physically at least, though, he's never felt that was the case otherwise.
Then, without missing a beat, he hands her a rather thick envelope, discreetly... as if he were some henchman performing a 'clandestine' exchange with their boss.
"You're looking well." He says, as if somewhat abstracted, in the act before he says sideways, "And you as well, Vivienne. You'll have to tell me what's featured this week at your cinema."
He has a seat, not long after, as he's trying not to make it more awkward than any visit here naturally is for him, though he doesn't bother to pick up a menu.
<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
Yanagi has caught sight of this ad campaign, and that food does look good. She's never had French cuisine before, and being all about new experiences, she decided to come by for this event. She'd rather not go alone, though, and who better to join her for a fresh new dining experience than her peacock pal, Pernelle?
(Saika is in the corner, weeping, probably. It's just as well; she's vegan.)
So on this August night, Yanagi drops by Fleur de Lis with Pernelle. Her long, wavy hair is parted in two long pigtails today, held in place by pearl hair clips that double as ties. Her eyes are a dark grey, her skin is pale, and she is alarmingly thin--but she still smiles brightly. She's dressed in a seafoam green dress with a flowing, ruffled, knee-length skirt and a stylish hooded white cloak, embroidered in silver, that clasps around her bodice. Pernelle may or may not be riding in the hood.
She walks in with the help of a polished walking stick, her free hand pushing the door of Fleur de Lis open. Regardless of how Pernelle is entering, she holds it for him, like a gentlewoman.
"Oooh, it looks lovely in here!" she breathes. "I can't wait for the trivia contest!" She beams at her companion, heading for a table with him once they're both inside. "Do you think we'll win, Pernelle?"
As a note: Nagisa is a high school drop-out, and Pernelle is a peacock.
OBVIOUSLY they'll win.
And, when it comes to order: "I don't know what that is!" she tells Ruzica brightly. "We'll have one of each, please and thank you!"
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
Remi has mixed feelings about entering a French-themed establishment. It can't possibly compare to her second homeland of France, not really, and yet... the wanting for something a little familiar she isnt sure she'll see again is undeniably real.
But she is pleasantly surprised as she steps in. The decor seems impeccable, and to be greeted by someone speaking fluent French is très excellent.
And she, herself, looks like she should fit right in here. She's about 5'6" tall, with long, wavy honey-blonde hair and matching complexion... and she is dressed in a black beret, turtleneck and skirt, gray tights, and a long flowing sea green cardigan and ankle boots.
Gosh, all that, in summer? Isn't she warm?
Remi adores Yua's French, of course, but her own she's cultivated over a lifetime. "`Thank you, dear, I think that I shall try the coq au vin, if you please. And... I shall try a cocktail. What do you recommend?`"
She turns to Yua and smiles. "Congratulations, darling, you must be very excited, non?"
She can't hide her own Resonance, of course, but she's not going out of her way to broadcast it, either. For Eve, it smells like steel, paper, and ink.
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Miho enjoys French food and French drink. It's an old style bar, and Miho appreciates that about it. Miho is here, with Yua, walking beside her partner. Her partner, engaged to someone else. ...It's fine. "It is," Miho agrees. and the matter of the order... She sticks to Japanese, though she clearly understands French. "The croissant sandwich with cheeses will be lovely. I will also try the house cocktail, since it comes so recommended."
She smiles at Remi.
She is in a dressy shirt, buttoned up, and slacks, with a belt. It's a masc presentation, but not quite 'mens' clothes'.
"Fingers crossed," Miho agrees, and this smile is less restrained.
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
So-young is quite fond of Kagurazaka on the whole. As a Korean person who is still kind of thinking of herself as a long-stay tourist, she's always been a little confused as to why Japan has such a love affair with a country on the other side of the world - but so long as it produces excellent food and leafy streets and lots of smaller laid-back shops for her to nose around she's certainly not going to complain.
She's also familiar with the area for business reasons - she has contacts within a nearby publishing house who work with the Bunkamura to produce manuscripts for the orchestral shows, and it's also where she gets her staff paper in bulk, and it's through them that she picks up the buzz about a new bistro's opening day. Far be it from her to miss something like this, especially since she's not-- --alright, she's not _avoiding_ Sumaru after sticking her foot down her throat yet again, but she is just kind of. Giving them a break from her for a day or two. Yeah.
The conductor looks well-suited for the place, because for once her habit of wearing evening dresses just looks absolutely perfect and suited for her locale, and her hime cut with its white-and-black piano hair is pretty damn Bohemian. So-young Park has also put quite a few points into schmoozing, and is quite aware how natural she can look with a wine glass in one hand and a complimentary canape in the other. Surely nothing will go wrong.
"A glass of the house red would be delightful, thank you, and if those are your recommendations, then--" So-young hesitates, because even she knows enough to be a little confused about the idea of a burger being one of the top-billing items at a French bistro. Drawn to that gap like a moth to a flame, she nods. "The burger as well, thank you." That said, she gravitates towards Rain as one of the other loud people here, delivering a warm smile. "Hello! What a small world. It was only yesterday we were escaping the Great Shibuya Flood with your help."
Along the way she spots a few people she knows, one of whom she thinks she knows fairly well - she nods with a bright smile towards Remi as she passes, but the other woman is clearly engaged in what is clearly some pretty important conversation as Yua holds up her hands - so astonishingly So-young manages to leave it at that for now. Give her a while and she'll probably say something awkward.
<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
"What a delightful establishment!" Pernelle chirps in agreement from Yanagi's hood, for how could he ever pass up the opportunity to be so adorably placed in a container of any sort?
Little description is needed for Pernelle. He is an Indian Peacock. Just a full on exotic pheasant who happens to speak -- so long as you're Awakened.
"The delineations of its cuisine was already heavenishly hypnotizing! But look at this, look at this..." He lowers his long, elegant neck and rises it back up in rapid, but fluid motions to look up and down. This means he is able to scrutinize everything impeccably, so long as it's at or above Yanagi height.
Trivia will be soon.
"Think? Oh, no no no, between the two of us? Our victory in this battle of wits is all but assured! We shall bathe in the lamentation of the fallen!"
As Ruzica speaks French, Pernelle brightens up with a ruffle of his neck feathers before they smooth again.
"My, my! Enchante, madam!" He does not actually expect her to hear him. "Yes, yes, what she says! Please and thank you!"
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
>>omg umichan the food is ssssssoo good you have to go!!!!
>>how expensive??
>>not bad
Umie scrolls through the restaurant's social media page on her laptop, the floor fan whirring in the background in her hot as hell apartment this warm August night. Red brown eyes spot the words 'half off'.
_The die is cast_.
Then it's uncast, as Umie gets a message back that no, her dearly exciteable friend Toki will be busy that night.
Then the die gets *cast* again because, screw it. _She'll go by herself_.
.....
There's... a lot of Persona Users here, including people she does and doesn't know, two of which are... Miho and Yua, who are... completely ordinary people, in a resturant. So why does Yua, in particularly, look familiar? Oh, right, the Old Maid attack. Awkward.
But, the area where Umie's attention is most drawn to is, of course: "Pernelle!" Which is how, unfortunately, Umie's own status as a Normal, Boring Person is blown. "... I didn't know you liked French cuisine t--"
Sorry, Yanagi, but Umie is now turning to you, and acting like you were the one she was talking to. Can you see the pleading look in her eyes, this person you have barely met, if at all?
"Peacock Silk, right?" Umie tries to smooth it over, with a casual, polite smile, drawing a blonde bang back.
(Meanwhile, Umie tries to remember Yanagi's name. It is definitely not Pernelle, who she has only met... once.)
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
Earlier in the morning, Tamaki had business to attend to elsewhere in Shinjuku Ward: Background research for a mundane case at one of the local public libraries. As her day wound down, she had decided to take a stroll down Kagurazaka to see how the neighborhood's changed since her 1st-year high school days ... and also now that the street isn't in parade preparation mode like it was when she had visited a couple of weeks ago. Sifting through old documents may be more mentally taxing than it is physically, but it does put her in the mood to get a pick-me-up before taking the train back home.
She is very pointedly avoiding the street directly adjacent to this one. No, no no no, she's got fonder memories of its neighbor, Kagurazaka. Maybe someday, but not today.
This Fleur de Lis place she comes across the entrance of isn't one which she remembers -- she thinks it's either new, or it had escaped her notice as one of those places she was too young to enter at the time. May as well take a chance on tasting the food here, sight unseen -- she's definitely more receptive to something novel rather than something familiar.
Tamaki steps through the doors, wearing her typical brown-and-beige-striped business attire with her necklace of mon coins prominently displayed front-and-center. She takes a table alone and after deepy consideration, she orders ... "May I have the croissant sandwich and cheeses with a glass of -- " She pauses partway through her order, snaps her fingers, and points at her server (presumably Ruzica!) with a grin. " -- I was about to say moscato, but do you have a particular cocktail that you'd recommend to pair with this? Thanks!"
Coming in late, she looks around and notices a few familiar faces among the crowd. Remi, she saw at the gym's fencing club, and she saw Miho from watching the Olympics on television. So-young is someone she's seen in a few contexts, but usually in a more chaotic setting. The Peacock Silk crew, she knows from their time in the Atelier. Umie --
She hears Umie blurt out Pernelle's name and turns to watch and listen to the proceedings with curiosity and amusement.
<Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
Ruzica is handling tables excellently as usual. Eve gives her an affirming nod if she looks her way, appreciating her work ethic.
"Ah, Vivienne. A pleasure to see you again," Eve greets her old friend as she steps inside. She'll trusts her not to cheat, but. She doesn't trust her not to be smug about winning, should she. Who knows!
Maybe someone else will cinch trivia tonight.
Yua, Remi, and Miho are noticed, mostly because Eve tracks a scent from Remi. Ink, steel, and paper... reminds her of books, in an odd way. She doesn't infer anything from it - a risky business - but she does infer one thing. Persona Users have arrived.
Eve reminds herself to take a deep breath, honing in on the people here to see if anyone has obvious, noticeable Resonance. She won't pry *too* deeply, and obviously she can't pierce another's shield, but she's curious how many people are to be worth keeping track on.
If one's Resonance is detectable, she'll track it by scent. That has always been her method, as a Navigator.
She also notices one of them an Olympian. She keeps up on that - she was mostly watching gymnastics, but she has a keen eye and a good memory. Interesting. Celebrating the victory with friends, perhaps?
Rain gets a glance, another foreigner, as Eve starts making the cocktails others are ordering with the help of some generic other bartender.
Alain approaches at this time with an envelope. Eve's reaction isn't quite clipped, but it's well-trained, well-formal, even at the impeccable timing. She knows better than to reveal emotions in public. "Hello, Alain."
She takes and stows away the envelope in her vest.
"Please, enjoy yourself tonight," she tells him with an even tone. Yuri isn't here... but she was very much looking forward to this being a success for her mother.
And then, Yanagi walks in with a PEACOCK. Pernelle immediately catches Eve's eye, but before she can react in a negative way, she hears his voice.
Well, fuck.
Eve asides to her other bartender that she's going to step out to the floor, who nods. Eve then proceeds to leave the bar, approaching Yanagi and Pernelle's table around the same time as Ruzica.
She's heard the rumors of a place called Peacock Silk. She's *very* well informed. But to imagine some of their own coming to her venue... is quite intriguing to her.
"Why, hello. Welcome to Fleur de Lis. I'm Eveline Deschamps, owner of this venue."
She glances to Pernelle. If he speaks, she is potentially cognizant that he's doing so. She turns back to appraise them as a group, not singling on Yanagi at any point.
"You work at Peacock Silk, non? I recognized your lovely bird friend here."
It doesn't seem like she's going to throw them out!
"Please, enjoy your time here, and good luck on the trivia."
At this time, Umie comes in and immediately greets Pernelle as well. Interesting. She can't sense her Resonance at all if she's indeed Awakened... that's quite a few Persona Users.
So-young and Tamaki are also noticed as they arrive. Tamaki's interest in Umie catches her eye briefly, before she turns to So-young and her exuberance. Another foreigner... interesting.
That's all well and good. Foreigners are definitely welcome at Fleur de Lis. But it wouldn't do not to appraise every single person who ever steps foot inside.
<Pose Tracker> Ruzica Crvena has posed.
Fortunately, Ryuzaki Kurama, habital chameleon, has largely not had a reason to have to meet Yua Ooshiro because he's neglecting classes. In the future, perhaps, for one reason or another, but... not now. Ruzica does take Yua's wonderful French with grace, nodding. "`Croissant and an apple juice, perhaps, ma'am?`"
Remi orders the coq au vin, and a cocktail. "`Our recommendation is Madame Deschamps' very own take on the French 75, the 'Rooster's Call' -- a blend of cognac and champagne, with a symple syrup and fresh lemon juice,`" she advises Remi and Miho both, who switches to Japanese.
"Croissant sandwich with cheeses," Ruzica nods, clearly understanding that if a customer is switching to another language, they have a preference, and she'll suit to match.
The key to being a polite server is to know when to get out of the way when your guest's topics are taking their attention, and thus, when Yua speaks of being 'weeks along', Remi congratulating her, Ruzica bows her head away from Team Dark (what is an adult several weeks along that they get congratulated on?? It is a mystery to Ruzica) and takes the time to stop at Vivienne's table.
"You look wonderful too, auntie," Ruzica answers Vivienne with a slight softness that's a little blink-and-you-miss-it, but that's the life of a deadpan person for you. "The premiere for that movie was bigger than I thought... I was glad to have been on hand for it." She does dutifully jot down the orders. The croissant is speaking to a lot of people tonight...
Ruzica does bow to Rain as she leads her towards a table, and pours her water and a menu. "The burger -- medium-rare? And the cocktail, certainly." She doesn't betray her expressionless face, but she is particularly intrigued at Rain's dress, which is just as unique with the French community in Kagurazaka as others. It's very striking, in a good way.
Ruzica pauses, though, because she can sense Alain's stare from across the bar when he enters through the front door -- and then quietly turns towards... towards... Yanagi and Pernelle.
About three seconds pass without her expression changing one bit at the presence of a wonderfully dressed woman in twintails and her... pet peacock?
This, too, is part of the mission. Approach the target peacock inconspicuously...
"One each of the burger and croissant sandwich? `Very good.` We have high seating for your peacock as well, mademoiselle, and please let us know if any other special arrangements are required," Ruzica answers, not missing a further beat as her gaze rests on Pernelle for a little bit long when he addresses her in specific, as if appraising her options.
Level 1 tactical assessment: To respond to a peacock would be the height of politeness to a guest.
Level 2 strategic counterplay: That may expose your status as a Hunter. You have the advantage at present.
Level 3 tactical consideration: Assume the part of the unawakened so as to not rouse suspicion.
"Your peacock is very beautiful," Ruzica answers Yanagi instead, feigning being a normie who can't hear anything but squawks, pouring Umie a glass of water when she arrives and letting her take her order on her own time, not being particularly pushy.
Peacock Silk. That was one of the targets mentioned. The mission continues. Eve is here to continue to socialise, and she's not going to get in her way.
Ruzica's distracted by So-young coming in, and she does stop to bow and guide her towards a table in turn. The tables sure are filling up fast, and there's a wide variety of ecclectic adults in attendance tonight... they're all very vivacious people in their own way, with a wide variety of high-class elegance and eccentricism both.
"The house red tonight is the `Angelique Trois Pinot Noir`," Ruzica advises. "And the burger, excellent. The wine will be with you in a minute, madam." So-young got madamed by an adam...... but indeed, why is there a burger on the menu of a French bistro? Perhaps it's a way in which they can appeal to a wider audience. Or perhaps...
The Burger Fiend exists right here.
There's a polite bow as well to Tamaki, as she guides her to one of the few remaining tables, pouring her water and waiting quietly and unobtrusively as she considers. "The croissant, wonderful, and..." A pause, as they consider what particular cocktail to recommend. "Madame Deschamps' Rooster Call is a favourite, but with the flavours of the croissant sandwich, perhaps I would recommend a crisp white to start? We have the `Arcana Famigilia Sauvignon Blanc` tonight."
Ruzica's deposited all of the orders to the kitchen at this point, but her task isn't done yet, because she next has to hurry and set up the projector and props for trivia night in a way that isn't too terribly conspicuous or bothersome, and then she's next hurrying to deliver informational sheets to each table for trivia night:
Please assemble a team of up to four members for Trivia Night on this sheet of paper and also the Name of your Trivia Team.
There will be an extra prize for the most evocative Team Name tonight!
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Eve is correct: they are here to celebrate Miho's gold medals. It just so happens that Miho has two gold medals... and a future baby.
Well. Not that anyone here would realise it's Miho's baby, given Yua's the one announcing it. "`Thank you, little miss!`" She chirps, brightly, to Ruzica.
Yua gasps in delight when she sees a talking peacock, only to look at who has brought the peacock and clap her hand over her mouth. (Her left hand; there's that engagement ring, again.) "A-hum..."
Their eyes are everywhere; maybe that man who just passed the proprietor a suspiciously thick envelope, Yua thinks. (Is she saying Alain looks like an NWO flunky...? ... well he sure is SUSPICIOUS.) She can't be out here calling attention to Yanagi when they might be watching her. And so she whispers, to Remi: "That is her... but she escaped, so let's be careful, okay? She--she doesn't want to get pulled back in."
Which might explain why Yua hasn't mentioned her. ... she can't help hearing the name 'Peacock Silk', though.
And then, at a more normal volume: "I'm so excited!!" The more normal volume for this statement is 'actually, quite loud', because Yua has only ever mostly figured out how to modulate her tone appropriately. "Even if, um..."
How should she say this...? "Father decided how to best handle it... and arranged my marriage to one of Mimi's cousins so I could enter the family. You know, someone who... approaches relationships like we do...? So it was a good match... the wedding's in September." Her smile is a little thinner, now. "His name's Kimitake Ijuuin! He's a kind man... he even visited today just to reassure me about everything. He's been very gentle with me, very understanding."
Luckily, at this point, Ruzica appears with a delivery of an informational sheet! "Oh!" Yua exclaims, holding it up. "We get to name our team! Mimi, what should we call ourselves...?" Of course she turns to Miho to answer that question; Miho is the most decisive of all of them. That's how she claims victory, right?!
<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
Pernelle assures Yanagi that their victory is a foregone conclusion. She giggles in delight. Her complexion may be pale, but her cheeks are rosy... more or less. "It'll be like milk and honey! My skin and your feathers will glisten like never before!"
Someone addresses Pernelle! Yanagi turns to get a look at who it is; Umie cuts herself off and gives her a pleading look. "Oh, no, continue on with your conversation! We'll be getting a table in just a moment," Yanagi reassures her with a bright smile.
Your unspoken pleas have fallen on uncaring ears, Umie.
"Yes, we're from Peacock Silk," she does at least confirm. She walks to the table Ruzica brings her to--sits--turns around to let Pernelle let himself out of her hood--
And then Eveline walks up. Yanagi blinks up at her, then smiles. "Yes! That's correct. I'm Yanagi Nagisa." She lets Pernelle introduce himself. She tilts her head, looking her over thoughtfully... and smiles again. "We will! Thank you for your welcome." She turns that smile on Ruzica next. "Thank you very much! He's an exceptionally resplendent peacock, you know."
Then she accepts the informational paper and looks it over. "Hmmm... It looks like we can have four members, and there's a prize for the best team name..." She sighs, cupping her cheek in one hand. "If only Tsumugi and Saika were here!"
She looks around the room at that point... and it's not hard for her to recognize the dark-skinned woman clasping her mouth. Her smile fades in a perhaps unsettlingly unemotional look as her dark eyes travel slowly from Yua to Remi and Miho.
Then she smiles back at Pernelle as if nothing had happened. "Oh well. Pernelle, what do you think for a team name?"
<Pose Tracker> Vivienne Sournois has posed.
"A pleasure indeed. Tonight seems to have been quite successful so far!" Vivienne replies brightly. If she's promised not to cheat, she can be trusted to keep to her word. ...Being smug about winning is something she'll never promise not to do, though, so it's wise not to trust her there. The only thing for it is to make sure she doesn't get her chance.
She looks toward Alain, then, at his greeting, offering him a smile.
"It's nice to see you, darling." She greets. And strange to see him here - but she doesn't point it out when it already must be awkward. It's a rare courtesy. A grin crosses her face. "Oh, it's a delightful line-up. Plenty of drama, plenty of romance... Action and thrills, and even a few animated pictures for the children. I still have some slots left, as well, if you have any specific requests."
Ruzica answers her with that softness, then, and Vivienne offers her a genuine smile.
"Thank you, dear. And, yes, that was quite the turnout, wasn't it? Thank you for your help - it certainly made everything go a lot smoother." She replies.
And then, a paper is distributed to the tables. Information sheets... for Trivia Night.
Vivienne fills one out for herself - and then looks toward Alain.
"Do you intend to participate, or are you here for the atmosphere? You're welcome to join my team, of course." She offers.
She already has a team name filled in on the paper.
'Belle Génie Éblouissante' - roughly, Beautiful Dazzling Genius...
...It might be wise to suggest alternative team names.
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
Remi smiles to Ruzica as the recommendation is made, responding back in French. "`That sounds delightful. I shall give it a try, thank you.`"
Remi turns her smile to Miho, next. "And congraulations to you as well, darling." Both for Yua's pregnancy, though Remi won't acknowledge it since they're in public, but also... "Another gold medal! Your match was simply inspired. All that hard work and training has paid off."
Something uncertain flickers in her expression for just a moment as she sees So-young, but the smile returns readily enough. Sociable, if not as effusive for Yua and Miho. "Good evening, Park-san."
Remi spent three and a half years fighting Shadows on a near-constant basis. She has a deeply ingrained habit of noticing the unusual, because doing so might mean the difference between life and death.
... A peacock in a restaurant certainly counts as unusual.
A talking peacock definitely counts as unusual and potentially dangerous.
"... my word," she murmurs to herself as Pernelle's voice draws her ear. But then she pauses and goes pale, like she's seen a ghost.
"Nine--" she almost utters, but catches herself. She's looking at Yanagi in shock, and it takes her just a moment too long to yank her attention back to Yua with a concerned look. "Y-yua-chan..." she murmurs. Questions are spiraling in her head now, as she tries to navigate all of the things her conditioning demands of her. As far as she knows... Yanagi is still an NWO asset, and needs to be protected.
Yua explains, and inadvertently complicates Remi's situation for her. "She what?" Remi asks in a strained whisper. "I thought..." Bluntly, that she'd died. Or been assigned without being told about it. But escape...
She closes her eyes and breathes slowly. If the NWO doesn't know, if they don't ask her... she doesn't need to do anything. She doesn't have to act.
It's fine.
She's too distracted to notice Tamaki at the moment, which might be a small blessing. The last time Remi saw her... was not the best of circumstances.
She forces a wane smile as she listens to Yua, though, as she explains... an engagement, to one of Miho's cousins. "... ah, I see. Well, 'tis far better he be kind than not, I suppose." Belatedly she adds, "... congratulations."
She was a bit distracted, and when the informational sheet comes around, she looks at it. A team name... "Well, naturally, since there are three of us... how about Les Trois Mousquetaires?"
<Pose Tracker> Rain Summers has posed.
Rain perks up when So-Young approaches. "Ah, right! You were one of them! Good to see you didn't end up catching cold. Come back anytime, I do a lot more there than offer shelter from the elements." She takes a sip of her water as she hands her menu back to Ruzica after ordering.
She takes the opportunity to look around and people watch as she waits for her food. She catches Eveline's glance from behind the bar. Ah, she must be the owner. Explains the atmosphere. She gives her a knowing nod in a show of gaikokujin solidarity.
Scanning around a bit more... hey, that lady looks kinda familiar... ah! The Olympics! She must have just come back from London! A small world indeed, she thinks to herself.
And her gaze immediately stops at the sight of--
"<Is that a fuckin' bird?>" She's struck into her mother tongue by the shock of a live-ass animal in a dining establishment. Well, as long as it behaved itself, she saw no reason to call the health board. That reminds me, isn't there that fancy boutique? Peacock Milk? Something like that. Probably related to that. No reason for there to be a peacock in the streets of Tokyo otherwise.
And then the trivia sheet is placed on her table. "Hm! Bar trivia. Doesn't seem very French, but whatever gets people in. Offering my services as a movie expert!"
<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
"It is I!" Pernelle replies to Umie cheerfully. "And it is you! The one with a fine touch to pet this fine crest of mine! And, goodness, whomst --" Pernelle you can't just say whomst -- "among us does not fancy a fine croissant? An invention of the French, to the best of my understanding. Ah, but terribly sorry, but I do not believe I caught your name, miss...?"
Once they come to the table, Pernelle wriggles his way -- as gently as a peacock can manage -- from Yanagi's hood by stepping onto the back of the seating, and then falling into his own seat beside her. It's like he thinks he's people!
Ruzica looks into the eyes of a peacock, and the peacock looks right back at her, tilting his head birdishly one direction to the next as he tries to determine her understanding. He puffs up his chest as she calls him beautiful, then looks under his seat. "I could do with some higher seating, I am afraid. I do appreciate the offer. And ah -- one other thing..." He glances to Yanagi pointedly before addressing Ruzica. "My burger... could I trouble you to set the toppings aside separately? I have a process. Incredibly delicate. It must be done by beak alone. Much appreciation for your understanding."
He has no such process. He just wants to see if this request will be met or not.
As Eveline approaches and looks right at Pernelle, Pernelle looks brightly right on back. "You may call me Pernelle, and please accept my highest compliments! The ambiance here is sophisticated beyond measure. You must have quite the eye for environmental design and management."
Yanagi calls him exceptionally resplendent, and Pernelle straightens up his neck with a nod. "So true. So true." Ah, but there is no Saika, nor Tsumugi, as Yanagi notes. Pernelle sighs melodramatically. "Oh, how I miss them in moments like these, dearest Yanagi! I will do my utmost not to devour every scrap we are served. Perhaps we can lure them here next time with a taste of what this wonderful location provides."
But oh, Pernelle is noticing he is drawing attention. And he does so love drawing attention. He ruffles and smooths himself out, preening and puffing so that all can gaze upon his novel glory -- and so Yanagi can continue to receive her own attention by proxy, should she so choose to savor it!
He pauses to peet at the information sheets. This bird can talk AND read? Pernelle squints at it thoughtfully, then turns to Yanagi. "It is you and I tonight, so we are not all of Peacock Silk, are we? No... we are but flames and ice. We are the burst and we are the surge! For that we shall be... Frost Fire!"
Yanagi, thankfully, is the one who controls writing instruments.
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
There is a Peacock there. He is talking. Miho notes this with some curiosity. Miho herself, when she speaks, may offer Eveline a faint scent of brimstone. Her Resonance is strong--subtle, but strong. Perhaps appropriate to an Olympian.
"Fascinating," Miho reflects. But Miho notes that Yua doesn't want to draw attention to her, and so she says no more than that, instead nodding at the matter of Yanagi to Remi. But Peacock Silk...
Hmmm.
She isn't surprised by Remi's overdressed state, of course. Instead, she smiles. But that smile fades shortly thereafter; the arranged marriage...
"It was very kind," she agrees, but there's a little less tone in her vocal tone than there usually is. The sheet though. The team name...
It takes a back seat for a moment, as she looks to Remi. "Whatever you need," she tells her, "We will make sure that you have."
A pause. "...I recommend 'The Golden Geese'," she says. "We are all quite taken with the Peacock... but we're a different sort of birds, don't you think?"
She hears Rain in English from across the room, and laughs softly.
<Pose Tracker> Alain Wakamatsu has posed.
He doesn't seem to take offense at Eveline's response, as if he were quite accustomed to it. "Of course." He says to the 'Please, enjoy yourself tonight,' as if to reply in a business like manner, a little clipped.
Yuri isn't here tonight, certainly, but she'd be upset if he skipped out on this big night for Eveline.
"Hmmm." Vivienne is her usual vivacious self, and Alain weighs the question. "May I avail myself of your expertise with the request to 'surprise me'?"
The truth is, he has no idea what kind of movie he would like to see right now. But he's become quite good at masking his indecisiveness as a symptom of his current state, behind politeness..
Alain looks sidelong at the Peacock as it talks and stares, like it's grown a second head. His eyebrows begin to raise... then looks back forward and rubs at his face like he's trying to remove that sight- or the exhaustion from his eyes.
"What bullshit anime are the kids watching that allowed this to happen?" He murmurs to himself grumpily, a bit of a contrast to the proprietor.
Still, he marks the name of 'Peacock Silk'. He'd heard the rumors, now... he wonders. Taking a sheet of paper, he glances towards Ruzica again... as Vivienne's question lingers.
"Why not? I believe I shall." Before he looks at Vivienne's paper, and makes a sour face... before looking back at her.
"You forgot to add 'Modeste', Vivienne." He deadpans, before considering names. Then sighing, "Perhaps 'Équipe: Mort de Rire'?"
Like most from his country, he perhaps has an ironic sense of humor. It has everything he isn't - laughing - and online - within the name.
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
So-young Park is usually able to roll with any stupid idea that gets into her head, but even she is taken aback when she hears the first chirps of a familiar voice from within Yanagi's hood, and even she has to drop her jaw in astonishment when she realizes what that means. All the elegance in the world cannot help her steal the show here, because there is really no way to beat the raw power of bringing a talking peacock along to a French bistro.
The problem with this is that So-young is not the most familiar when it comes to matters of the Dark Hour and Resonance and the Metaverse and all that other stuff, and so perhaps she has not completely realized that only resonant people can talk to the talking peacock. (She will be _most_ upset when she realizes this, because that means the world at large is being denied of Pernelle's glorious presence! Gasp!)
Thankfully, Umie is also there to make that mistake. Now we can only hope that So-young works it out from that. This is extremely likely to happen, definitely. At least the conductor raises her eyebrows towards Umie, having apparently already social-butterflied her way towards one table with someone faintly familiar at it, and the key here is that for So-young 'faintly familiar' is still familiar enough to speak to someone as if they've been friends forever.
For a moment she watches as Ruzica interacts with Eveline, because it's this of all things that makes her smile in the moment - before raising her eyebrows as she's directed to a table. "Thank you! I must confess I haven't heard of that maker, but I will trust in the house," she chimes back to Ruzica, before her face almost comically falls. "Oh, dear. I must be getting older if I don't warrant a 'miss' anymore," she teases merrily. So-young is absolutely not good enough to even try to hide her resonance - it smells like aged wood and walnut, with a little side of wax.
When Ruzica delivers her wine, So-young has put her purse in her lap, carefully picking through it as she does her best to try to grab Eveline's gaze. But Ruzica can certainly be asked as well: "Oh, do you mind if I take some photographs? Not of any staff, of course, and certainly not the other clientele. Just the bar itself, if that would be alright," she requests with all the force of her charm. "It's truly a lovely looking place."
"Oh, I was quite alright. I am lucky to live right nearby, so I technically didn't even need to come down to street level to see the festivities - but it's so much better that way, and I got to meet a few new people out of it! So-young Park," she repeats. "I primarily work at the Bunkamaru, putting on performances."
"That _is_ a fuckin' bird," the conductor repeats back with amusement as she slides into the seat opposite Rain, the swearword somewhat at odds with-- the rest of her rather posh look. Leaning in Pernelle and Yanagi's direction, So-young is absolutely not afraid to conduct some ILLICIT DEALS FOR THE SAKE OF VICTORY, beckoning her hand a little to try to get their attention on the downlow before anyone else can poach - sorry, bad wording in Pernelle's case - the pair.
"Pernelle! Pernelle! My stalwart friend!" she hisses softly while also managing to inject maximum drama into her voice. It is a learned skill, and it helps to have such ironclad self-confidence that you are not afraid to look like a buffoon. "Together, surely our teams would be unstoppable!"
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
For Eveline, there is a smell of something like feathers. Not a peacock, but something that shouldn't be noticed, that is ordinary. Ignore it, it's likely nothing. A shroud that hangs itself on a cognitive, persistent lie can only do so much against those that detect via extraordinary supernatural means, but still, it is an attempt at holding itself.
Yanagi deals with Umie's quiet pleas with a quick, artful refusal to play along. No, Pernelle must be experienced like someone experiences an electric shock: with your full, utmost attention and appreciation for the surprises that life gives you. "Don't worry," she chuckles, "I never gave mine. It's Umie Akabane," she supplies to Pernelle, nodding to him and Yanagi in turn, "Kujaku-san was nice enough to tell me yours when I was in last. But, it's nice to meet--" let's not be rude, Umie "--the two of you again."
She turns to Ruzica in turn, nodding as the astute waitress pours her a glass of water. "Thank you." She glances down at the menu, her eyebrow twitching ever so slightly. ... Where does someone start, here...? "What do you recommend?" Umie asks, pleading with her eyes for the second time this night.
(She may have missed a few recommedations because there was a very pretty Pernelle in front of her.)
Oh, right, trivia. She was going to convene with So-young, but Tamaki is also there.
_Teams of four._
"Uchida-san." Umie lets out a sigh, and holds up her hands with a shrug. "You with anybody?" she says, in the next breath, already gripping her hand into a fist in front of her as she leads with her offer: "We should combine our powers of observation for personal gain."
(Forgive her, So-young. You already have an advantage of being So-young. But Umie will be there to snap you up if your proposal for funding falls through.)
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
Ruzica's suggestion sounds perfectly lovely to Tamaki, and she nods with a grin. "The Sauvignon Blanc to start, then, but I would like to follow it up with that Rooster Call sometime in the evening, please." She's absolutely beaming; this feels like just the thing to recharge her spirits ..!
... Maybe she'll ask for a burger when the time comes for that Rooster Call, too ...
To Eve's senses, Tamaki's Resonance consists of a curious medley of coffee, honey, freshly-cut pears, and faint traces of ... is that gasoline?
... RIGHT, she'd also seen Yua around Aoba Ward and had a chat with her over in Paulownia Mall. It's been a while, but given how Yua's in the same group with Miho and Remi, her absence makes sense. The Three Musketeers, indeed. Knowing two out of the three of them is enough for her to give them a distant friendly wave.
She stands from her seat to move next to Umie and the Peacock Silk pair. Her disposition couldn't be sunnier. "Hello again, Akabane-san, and ... you're with Peacock Silk, I assume? We had met the other night, albeit briefly. It's a pleasure to see you again. I'd been meaning to stop by your shop, just haven't quite had the time yet ..." She gives Yanagi a slight bow. "If I forgot to introduce myself then, allow me to do so now: Tamaki Uchida, of the Kuzunoha Detective Agency."
As for Umie's question about trivia teams, Tamaki nods fiercely and gives her a thumbs-up in response. "Both tonight and onwards. How does the 'Detection Division' sound as a team name to reflect our respective powers of observation?"
<Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
As sheets are passed out, Eve finishes with Yanagi and Pernelle. She considers her approach. She can't... quite respond to Pernelle as proprietor of a mundane-friendly restaurant, even though it's clear she understands him, with the ways her eyes light up and her face shifts.
So, she doesn't. She leaves it at that, nodding, though her own Resonance flares subtly, as uncertain as it is whether that was accident or purposeful. (Everyone who knows her knows the answer.) To the standard Resonance senses of those right near here, it feels like flames, tempering steel and glass. Highly controlled. Highly honed.
For she who senses internally, possessed by the feeling, it's like having a sense of calm passion. A burning intensity that nonetheless is completely under your grasp... careful unless it slips, and threatens to burn you indiscriminately.
And for she who senses visually, it's a flicker of candle flame. Lit by the bearer and consistent in its burning, yet still painful if touched wrong.
She has no issues playing this card. It doesn't reveal the others, and it allows her to attract attention for her Dark Hour rendezvous in the future.
Miho's brimstone is noted. Interesting, but perhaps fitting, indeed. The other scents are all catalogued as data as well. Umie's is *particularly* fascinating.
That's a lot of Persona users, alright.
So-young gathers her eye, and she steps over. "I don't see why not," she asides about photographs. "Be my guest."
Then, she'll wait for Ruzica from there, angling over at the bar next to Alain and Vivienne.
"Vivienne, Alain, good luck to you as well." A squint at their team name. "...interesting."
That, in itself, is the most emotional reaction she'll give all night.
<Pose Tracker> Ruzica Crvena has posed.
Food is definitely flying out in fairly rapid order, and Ruzica's very busy with a lot of carrying and lifting and ensuring that people are catered for. Burgers, croissant sandwiches, cocktails, the coq au vin... all kinds of appetising and beautiful-looking food is served.
Pernelle, however, is upping the ante. He has a particular desire for his burger for his toppings to be set aside, because of the particularly unique nature of being a bird... ... ...
This is a tremendous tactical risk. Optimum strategic outcomes require her to continue to play the part of the unawakened fool. But does he know? Perhaps he knows that she can't just easily ignore a request from a customer let it result in an unoptimal service outcome! He's pincered her between her desire to be an excellent server and her obligations to the Wild Hunt! MERDE!!!!
And thus, it is without flinching later that Ruzica shall serve Pernelle his beautiful burger... ... ... and then very surreptitiously stumbles on her step such that the burger smoothly slides across the plate -- and yet not outside!! -- such that the top bun, slice of tomato, lettuce, and patty are all separated. Nothing fell off, though.
"Ah... my most profound apologies for my incompetence," Ruzica quietly apologises to Yanagi. "We can re-assemble or provide you with a new burger for your peacock..."
That was a strategic error for the Hunter. But perhaps a point of pride for the Perfect Server.
At around the time Ruzica comes back with drinks and their food, she's definitely cottoned on a little that there's a little cross-pollination of recognition across the tables... but it isn't as if Ruzica is paying particularly keen attention. Besides, adults know each other, right?
Rain's expression of shock is given a quiet nod by the time Ruzica arrives with her burger. "<It is a bird,>" she answers Rain in English. "<Your burger, ma'am, please let me know if you require condiments or anything in addition.>" How many languages does this Japanese teen speak...?
Ruzica does stop and look back to Alain by the time she's handing out the information sheets, pouring him a glass of water as well. Chances are he's already taken an order through the bar or Eve, but... Mort de Rire? Perhaps they will all be, by the end of this.
"`Please let me know if you'd like refreshments, Monsieur Wakamatsu,`" she does advise Alain. So damn lifeless, unlike Ruza... there's something like a little bit of timidness, perhaps, though it's well-buried underneath that rigid porcelain mask of hers.
Vivienne's comment has her nodding as well, however. "I will be on hand to assist for tomorrow afternoon as well."
Ruzica does stand still against So-young's burst of energy, and without missing a beat or even changing faces: "My apologies, `mademoiselle.` Photographs are fine, but please do not take direct shots of the clientele or staff, and please do not disturb anyone with the act of photography. We appreciate your patronage."
Since So-young has burst onto Pernelle's side, it's there that Umie asks what she should have on the menu. "The croissant sandwich or burger are half-off during trivia night and do come recommended, and come with a side of steak-frites and a side salad. For vegan options, we have the classic French bistro salad, or our French Onion Soup..."
It seems that a number of these people are a lot more free in sharing that they can hear the peacock, like So-young and Umie. That means that she's awakened...? That's a worthy observational note for later. There's a polite nod for Tamaki's preference of the cocktail later, and as she declares what their team name is going to be. Tamaki Uchida, of the Kuzunoha Detective Agency....
... that's the place that she wanted to go to.
Ruzica keeps herself quiet and inconspicuous, unlike Eve -- she knows Eve's methods, and her own method is to try to be as unobtrusive and avoidant as possible. What will they gather tonight?
"Thank you for waiting. We shall begin Trivia Night in short order. But first, we shall introduce our intrepid teams," speaks Ruzica through a microphone, the lights on the bar dimming slightly as the projector comes on. Perhaps they should've gotten someone with a little more emotion in their voice, or someone whose face can... emote? Or is this in fact a form of French humour? Or free child labour.
"... First is Team `Équipe: Mort de Rire`," Ruzica reads out, gesturing towards Vivienne and Alain's corner of the bar. "Ha ha. Ha ha..." Ruzica monotonely intones laughter and attempting to have a heart attack on the spot with it.
"Next, we introduce Team Golden Goose," Ruzica monotonely points out, gesturing towards Yua, Miho and Remi. "With Grimm determination, let us hope they shall not be stuck like their namesake."
"Never to be outdone, we have the team with the resplendent peacock, Team Frost Fire, with several additional tildes and flowers and also the cool S," Ruzica observes, nodding to Yanagi, Pernelle and So-young. "Will we be graced with a song as well?"
"And last but not least, be aware, for we have sleuths amongst us, it's Team Detection Division," Ruzica introduces Umie, Tamaki and Rain. "There is only, after all, one truth." It's a catchphrase worthy of a barbarian, perhaps.
"Then, our first round of questions will be..."
BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7RDkJEKSaQ
1. Snails can feel through their shells. True or false?
2. Most snails have a ribbon-like tongue with thousands of microscopic teeth. What is it called?
3. The scaly-foot gastropod, or volcano snail, is a species of deep-sea hydrothermal-vent snail from which Ocean?
4. What is the biggest known species of snail?
... ...
Hey........
Why are all of the trivia questions about snails...? And it seems like, if you squint hard enough, Ruzica is a little more vigorous about reading out the questions, like she's so proud to share in their first and foremost interest and there's music notes coming out of her head...
> You shared snail facts with a room full of adults.
> Your Guts definitely increased again. Yet your guts still tells you you're hungry...
<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
Had Yanagi not already had a conversation with Yua about this, she'd be much more concerned, of course. Remi sure doesn't look as though she'd already been informed about her, the way she's gone pale. However, Yua told her she would pretend not to see her, and Yanagi believes her--so she will pretend not to see her back.
For now, at least. No, for now, Yanagi shares that pointed look at Pernelle as he gives Ruzica specifics on his order for a made-up process. She most certainly does not weigh in on this. She does adjust his seat lovingly before she sits; she slips her left hand out of the cloth strip that keeps her polished walking cane at hand, then hangs it on the edge of the table.
When Ruzica returns later and stumbles into precisely the way Pernelle ordered his burger, she smiles. "No, that's quite all right," she reassures her. She looks at Pernelle. "Unless it isn't?"
She watches Eveline for a moment as Pernelle weighs in. As a Navigator with a visual aspect to her extrasensory perception, she takes in the sight of a candleflame, lit and controlled by its bearer. For her part, Eveline would scent her own Resonance like a winter forest--fragrant yet sharp at the same time. Pine needles among ice crystals.
Pernelle laments with Yanagi about the lack of Tsumugis and Saikas. "Oh, how magnanimous of you!" she gushes. "Yes, you're quite right. Besides, I already think I want to come back here. I understand French cuisine includes snails, and we absolutely must try that sometime!"
Maybe they're trying it tonight, even! She doesn't know the French word for snails or what the two of them just ordered! Why couldn't there be escargot on a burger?
Yanagi giggles again at all the stares and comments Pernelle is getting. "You're a star," she says affectionately, reaching out to pet him atop his glorious crest with a single long, dexterous finger. She looks up at Umie and Tamaki as they both introduce themselves properly; Yanagi has a smile for Tamaki in particular, recognizing her from Taro's Atelier.
"Oh, it's lovely to properly meet you both! I'm Yanagi Nagisa. Thank you again for your hard work the other day!" she adds to Tamaki in particular. "Please do feel free to come by anytime. We usually have someone there!"
...They might be the only person there, but there's usually someone.
But she is indeed the one controlling the writing instrument, so she soon picks up the pencil. "What a lovely idea! Oh, but you and I both love to sing little songs. Maybe we could add that in there for... there!" she declares, writing it down. She turns around the paper and reveals their new team name: A SONG OF FROST AND FIRE
(It does indeed have tildes, flowers, and two cool S-es.)
Yanagi is the one who controls writing instruments. There's nothing to be thankful about for that.
"Oh, croissants were popularized in France, but they were actually invented in Austria," she asides to Pernelle as she writes. "They used to be called kipferl, but when an Austrian baker brought them to France, they were renamed to croissants because of their crescent shape. Tsumugi told me so last week when we had some for breakfast!"
.........Maybe they will win this trivia contest??
She looks up when she's done, and sees So-young join her and Pernelle to suggest they join forces. "You mean, become one team?" She looks to her companion, then smiles back. "I don't mind at all! Welcome, stranger!" ...At least she's not a stranger to Pernelle?
Ruzica asks if they will grace them with a song. "Oh, absolutely!" Yanagi gushes. She looks to Pernelle and So-young, with absolutely no knowledge of whether So-young has any musical talent or not, and goes, "One, two--!"
And she bursts into a loud song, scatted rather than sung. Specifically, it's the Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky.
...Someone else will need to answer the questions. Yanagi doesn't know anything about snails, beyond that they are probably delicious. Maybe they won't win this trivia contest......
<Pose Tracker> Vivienne Sournois has posed.
"My gratitude. Your assistance will be, as ever, appreciated." Vivienne offers to Ruzica.
Alain says 'surprise me', in regards to film selection, and Vivienne offers him a smile.
"Of course. You know I would never miss out on the opportunity to surprise someone." She assures. Of course she wouldn't. It's a prime opportunity to amuse herself. Her attention is drawn the way he looks, then, and - my, is that a live, fully grown peacock? She wonders what Eveline thinks about that. For Vivienne, she observes this with amusement.
...And, most unusually, he talks. Oh, now tonight truly has become fascinating.
"What, indeed." Vivienne agrees with Alain, bright in contrast to his grumpiness. "For I think I would much like to watch it myself!"
Alain agrees to join Trivia Night, though - and makes a comment. She emits a mock gasp of surprise.
"Ah! How true, how I could I have possibly forgotten? It's ruined now, I'm afraid." She replies, shaking her head... and then she laughs, fittingly, at his suggestion. "How perfect. Yes, that shall be us, I think."
Eveline offers them good look.
"Thank you, Eve, darling. We'll do our best~!" Vivienne replies... and grins, as she spots the team name.
Team names are read out! Vivienne looks pleased at Ruzica's reaction, and takes a moment to partake of her order until, eventually the questions are read out.
They... aren't all going to be -
...They are, at least for this round. Vivienne laughs.
"Why, Alain, I believe we've been had." She replies. "Now, let's think about this..."
She 'hm's to herself.
"Now, I'm certain that the answer to '1' is true... They must be like turtles, yes? Their shells being a part of them. So naturally, they would be able to feel it." She says. "And 3... why, if we answer 'Pacific Ocean', we have the highest likelihood of being correct purely by volume alone."
She 'hm's to herself.
"The rest, though... I'm afraid I have no earthly idea. Your thoughts?" She asks.
Vivienne watches a lot of movies, so she's fairly knowledgeable on trivia. There are not, however, a lot of movies about snails.
They'll have to wait until next year for that.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yua wishes she could pet Pernelle's crest...
being part of the deepstate sucks, you guys. :(
Dutifully, Yua does not look to Yanagi, though. She promised! She does wave to So-young, though, when Remi points her out. "Greetings, Park-san!" ... she is, in fact, the kind of woman to bust out a cheerful 'greetings'; socialising for her is one big performance, so no wonder she can ham it up.
(Mysteriously, Yua didn't see her before because she was distracted by the bird... and mysteriously, Yua will leave her alone when she joins the bird. So-young is safe -- for now!!)
She does whisper, her words strung taut under tension, to Remi: "Her name, it's Yanagi Nagisa... she worked hard for that." While it's safer for them to know less about her... the manner of address Remi almost blurted out isn't one Yua can stand. And then, a touch more softly: "... it's okay. We're here."
And she's here, too. Yua chances squeezing Miho's hand, for a brief moment, before she returns her hands to her own lap; but she smiles supportively, to her, as if to silently assure her that she understands there's more here unsaid, with the way Miho says it's very kind.
Is this the sort of thing which should be described as bravery...?
She looks between Remi and Miho as they declare their respective name suggestions, though, and...
"HONK!", Yua honks, cheerfully, and with gusto.
Sorry, Remi. Yua getting to make dumb animal noises is gonna win every time.
And then she hears 'is that a fuckin' bird' and giggles, behind a hand. Turning to see where that came from -- yes, Rain does rather stand out -- helps her catch Tamaki's wave, and she enthusiastically waves in return... though she doesn't get up to go bother her when she heads towards the peacock, mysteriously.
She falls quiet, though, her eye focusing on nothing at all; "oh," she exclaims, but quietly, as she is gripped by that feeling of passion. "Mimi...?" She wonders, first, as she looks to her; but of course Miho's Resonance grasps her as a different type of burning, and as much as she's reminded, the difference is plain to her when she reaches out to investigate.
In this single moment of unguarded uncertainty, Eveline may smell stillwater and stale air, chthonic and sealed away.
"`Thank you very much,`" Yua says, to Ruzica, when she delivers her croissant sandwich. Though, she realises something about the way she's been the only one flitting around taking orders: "`Oh, are you working all alone tonight? You poor thing...`"
She turns to Miho, and says: "She's very hard-working!!"
But then -- the trivia!!
"Honk!!!" Yua calls out, cheerfully, after Ruzica introduces them.
But then, the questions...
"Ehhh... ummm...." Yua starts, tapping her finger to her lip. "Isn't that tongue really called a foot? Umm..."
She sighs, her shoulders sinking. "These questions are too hard for me..." She says, with blue sadness squiggles snaking over her visage.
... Yua's really taking these snail facts seriously, huh?
<Pose Tracker> Alain Wakamatsu has posed.
"I can always count on you, Vivi." Is his easy response to her being so readily willing to surprise him.
Alain looks up briefly at Eveline's 'interesting'... there was a time in his life when he would have adored getting such a reaction out of her.
Now...
He's still looking off into the distance when Ruzica politely offers him refreshments, "'I'll pass,' ombre." It's said with a mild edge of distaste to it, though he does so quietly at least.
He's not here to ruin the night.
Her later 'Ha ha. Ha ha...' over the light of the flickering projector causes him to have regrets.
Then their first round of questions... causes his eyebrows to shoot up, then he looks to Vivienne. "Is this their idea of an 'Escargot' joke?" He asks, as if confused by all the questions being about snails.
But then again, who can understand how Shadows even think? He stares at the projector screen again at Vivienne as she breaks it all down her logic on the answers. They are good - well reasoned thoughts, but-
"Vivi... I believe I'm about to blow your mind." He says, sighing, as he begins to write down answers in front of her.
1. True
2. Radula
3. Indian
4. Australian Trumpet
He's not sure what's weirder, that all the questions are about snails or that he knows the answers thanks to an extensive module on Mollusks as a teen.
> Your Guts failed to increase from showing off your knowledge of snail facts in public.
> It is not a courageous act when you are dead inside.
<Pose Tracker> Rain Summers has posed.
Rain sighs and takes a bite of her burger once it's provided to her. Despite spending most of her life in Japan, she WAS an American, and one cannot keep an American from burging out.
Pretty good! Could use a slice or two of pineapple, though.
Swallowing her bite, she glances to her two trivia partners, Umie and Tamaki. "Kuzunoha? Think I've seen your agency's name in the news once or twice. Detective work, huh? Man, that's really cool! You ever get any dangerous dames walking through your door on a stormy night?" She chuckles and turns over to Ruzica as she introduces the teams. "how is the bird going to..."
She gives it no further mind as the questions are read out and... Snails. What happened to, like, history and pop culture and stuff like that? There definitely are not a lot of movies about snails, fast or otherwise.
"Hm... Well, I don't... think snails can feel through their shells? Weird questions..."
<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
Pernelle is no navigator, but he still has Resonance for Eveline to sniff out... like smelling freshly washed linens by a fireplace.
"Umie!" Pernelle repeats. "Umie... That has a nice sound to it! Uuuuuumie. Ahem. It is wonderful to finally formally meet you." First name basis? Well, he only has a first name...
But there is yet another friend! "So-young! So-yoooung!" Pernelle cries with sing-song delight. "What a pleasure it is to be graced with your charming company this extraordinary evening!" He motions to her with a clawed foot, looking up at Yanagi. "Dear So-young is a most wondrous comrade in the arts. I should think we will benefit from such an auspicious alliance."
And so an alliance there shall be!
Serving is made, and Pernelle awaits to see what Ruzica will do with rapt attention. And what Ruzica does is... oh no! She slips! Pernelle's feathers ruffle as he straights alert. "My word, little hatchling, are you all right?" But Ruzica does not respond to this, and. Hm. His burger was not separate and is now. How... inconclusive!
"It is quite all right," he echoes to Yanagi. "Puzzling, but all right." Pernelle might think to consider thus further, but now he's got food in front of him and, as Yanagi points out, is a star. Between snacks and attention, what thought could Pernelle possibly hope to hold?
"A song! Beautiful, Yanagi! Perfection!" But he is informed he is INCORRECT about the nature of a croissant! "Is that so? I had no inkling of such a history! Tsumugi truly is wise! Kipferl. I do like that that sounds, yes. Adorable!"
He reassembles that burger with his beak, humming to himself. The lettuce does not actually make it back onto the burger before Pernelle accidentally eats it up along the way. Munchmunchmunch. But the rest of the burger... that is something Pernelle is opening his beak over, apparently intent on trying to fit the entire thing into his mouth at once. (This will not work, not outside a meta-space.)
For a moment he aborts it to look to Yanagi. "Oh Yanagi, had I but known you wanted a taste of snail! They are delectable little treats. I favor them to slugs... the crunch is a critical aspect of the mouthfeel, you see. I shall have to save you a few next time I go nosing through the gardens!"
Pernelle may be a magical peacock... but he is still a peacock. And what do peacocks eat, naturally? Well, unfortunately for Ruzica, and maybe fortunately for trivia...
Peacocks.
Love.
Snails.
He is eating his burger normal style when the questions come up. He opens his beak in awe of the questions, and a tomato falls out. He looks up at Yanagi.
"True." Do NOT ask him how he knows that. "Radula. Indian." This question's not fair, Pernelle's an Indian Peacock! "Achatina achatina."
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
Remi of course, hears that name, Peacock Silk... and she has other business there, she feels like. She still has some concern over what happened there with Myunghon, after all. But that's a problem for later.
Remi won't press about the engagement. Not here, at least. She's got a hunch, based on the prior conversations she's had with Yua, of why this may have happened.
She gives a small shake of her head to Miho. "I... I will be fine. I simply need a moment." She pauses. "... and perhaps some water." She'll go for her glass if she already has one available to her.
Remi feels guilty for that manner of address. It was a detestible thing, how they were treated in the lab. It took her a while to stop thinking of Yua as her number, too. But a name will give her something to latch on to. "... thank you, dear," she whispers back. They're there. She nods. "Merci."
Remi's starting to regain her composure, and the notices the wave from Tamaki, and offers a small smile and a nod back. It's not much, but they've only met the once (or at least, had a meaningful conversation the once.)
When the order comes, her smile is much more put-together for Ruzica. "`Ahh, thank you very much.`"
Yua decides the name, and Remi chuckles good-naturedly. "Very well, then. I admit, my suggestion loses something without our dear Myunghon here... Ah well."
She manages a small chuckle at Vivienne and Alain's team name. She does take note of the other teams as well, however, though she doesn't let her gaze linger too long on Yanagi and Pernelle's table.
REmi will pretend not to notice Yanagi, now that she's been made aware of the situation.
But the questions come, and Remi frowns a bit. "Well I should think the shell is separate from their body... so I would wager they cannot feel through them."
"... but for the rest I couldn't hazard a guess. I do not think they use sea snails for escargot, but beyond that... I don't know."
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Miho will be more willing to discuss the engagement with Remi... privately. Perhaps it's the same for the matter of Yanagi.
It could be called bravery. Honking is definitely bravery. And it's a delight. Miho smiles.
The matter of the Resonance, though--Miho frowns for a moment as she looks to Yua. "Are you quite all right?" she wonders.
But Ruzica brings their things, and Miho says, "Thank you."
But soon, the trivia and... there are... snails.
Loses something without Myunghon... Hmmm. Miho supposes that may be so.
She regards Tamaki too, when she sees REmi waving to her, and gives her a dignified nod.
Still...
"I know nothing about snails but that properly prepared, the right ones are delicious," Miho says.
"I have no time for slow creatures."
That delivered, she considers. "...But if I were to guess..."
False, foot, Pacific, and gigantic."
She nods firmly.
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
Sometimes you have to recruit the peacock. Sometimes you think rules are a suggestion. Sometimes trivia nights are for getting pleasantly tipsy and rowdy. And as such So-young also waggles her eyebrows towards Umie and Tamaki both, as if she is trying to katamari everyone she knows in the room into one big pile and _then_ worry about how she's going to justify it counting as four people.
The conductor does make sure to smile back to Yua for good measure - less because she thinks socialising is a performance, and more because she's the sort of person to put a lot of stock even in acquaintances. "Hello! I do hope things are going well - and my congratulations?" she adds. It's in passing, but it's well meant - the only reason she puts a faint question mark on the end is just to be certain, since she is trying to get a little better about just bowling people over.
"Thank you so much," So-young smiles brightly to Eveline, and then again as Ruzica so-smoothly changes her title to Mademoiselle instead. Now that's impeccable service, So-young decides to herself as she nods solemnly. "Of course, I completely understand. I will be careful," she promises, because she is at least aware of how you act at a fancy place when it comes to taking photographs for Binsta.
So-young is quick to slide across to Yanagi's table, and it is there that she accepts her burger, her eyebrows raising sky-high at the sight of it. "My," is all she notes as she pauses to take a quick snapshot of it - the camera she pulls out to do so is pretty high-end, though with the trivia impending she does make sure to work quickly - and then levels a bright smile towards Yanagi herself.
"Hello!" she beams. "Would I be right in thinking that you are with the Peacock Silk? If so, then I am at least a little higher than a stranger - rather, a customer. You crafted an exquisite silver baton for me," So-young adds as she takes out a slim case that looks like it might hold either a pen or very thin glasses. Inside is a thin shape - a telescoping conductor's baton, with a filigree handle. Certainly, the atelier's work. "I thought I would take this opportunity to compliment you on it. It is absolutely gorgeous."
"So-young Park, of the Tokyo Philharmonic," she adds with a bow of her head in greeting as Pernelle introduces her, before--oh!
As mentioned: So-young will instantly join in with any dumb idea on the best of days, and that only goes double for anything musical related. It takes her only the first couple of bars to identify the music, and then she has snatched up the baton she was just showing off to 'conduct' Yanagi's singing, accompanied by taps of her baton against two water glasses and a wine glass as not-quite-percussion not-quite-melody, using their different levels of fullness to 'ting' different notes out. "If only I had my violin with me! I have not forgotten my promise to you, Pernelle."
This is absolutely how you act at a classy French bistro. The snail questions may have been temporarily forgotten, but So-young's answer to each of them would probably have been 'snail' anyway, or maybe a little doodle of a snail instead in an attempt to fish for extra points. Fortunately, Pernelle is there to save the day in a burst of glory, and thus So-young's grand plan of trivia domination continues apace. At least, as far as she knows.
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
Something about Eveline draws Umie's attention immediately. Umie's being Perceived, and, in turn, she's seeing them as well, causing her lips to quirk in a dour line.
Thankfully, Umie's critical eye is distracted by Pernelle, who elongates her name so delightfully that Umie forgets that spike of paranoia, giving Pernelle a charmed smile. "Great," Umie says, in turn, to Yanagi, considering her garments. To get away with dressing like that, and doing it so *well*-- "Sounds like you've been gaining some fans, Ichida-san," Umie says, with a small, pleased grin. She saw Tamaki at the Atelier, but it *was* a rough battle...
It'll likely get harder, as time goes on. Which means, it's time to--
"Crossiant sandwich sounds good," Umie says, slightly later, to Ruzica. It may or may not be due to Pernelle mentioning them earlier, but they're now on her mind.
But *now*, it's time to... think. About snails.
".... Team, I think our answer is clear." Umie folds her hands in front of her mouth, coral red fingernails standing brilliantly against the pink of her skin and the black of her thumbsleeves.
Her eyes narrow, about to drop her final answers onto the table with her brilliant companions.
Her hands slowly revolve outwards in a shrug; like her hands, she has nothing.
".... She... really likes snails..."
_Think, Umie, think._ She places her hand on one upturned palm. "Why do you think they can't, though?" she asks Rain. "If a snail is inside its shell, how does it know when to come out?" Deep philosophical questions, by Umie.
The second question. ".... Do snails have mouths?" Damn it, she never studied snail facts in high school! ".... I know they have feet." The third? "..... Pacific?" And finally, the last! "I think there was something about a really big snail that was in the US," Umie posits. "Something about it being big enough to eat houses... I think that part was just, translated wrong. It was...." What a terrifying snail... "African land snail, maybe?"
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
Tamaki smiles at Remi's response, but looks mildly caught off-guard when Miho waves back at her as well. An Olympic fencer is far, far above her own hobbyist skill level when it comes to sabre fencing -- she's feeling a little intimidated. ... Yua's honking antics amuse her, but do not surprise her, from what she knows of Yua. She can't help but crack a wry smile as the bird very understandably steals Yua's focus.
Tamaki beams at Yanagi. "You're welcome, Nagisa-san! I learned a lot in the process. I'll stop by sometime." She glances at Pernelle, though refrains from addressing him here. ... She does wink at him.
Ruzica's comment on the team name she suggested causes her to rankle her nose slightly. Something about that sounds a little funny to her ear. On one level, it's not an incorrect statement, but ...
Tamaki shakes off the feeling and smiles at Rain. "Good to have you! The days are usually sunny, but otherwise, yes! On occasion." A beat. "I'm an apprentice detective, so don't get the wrong idea, the Chief really calls the shots."
Snails. The questions are about snails. While Tamaki's body of knowledge is broad, she lacks ... specialization.
"They're certainly not questions I know the answers to offhand, but let's see how much we can induce our way through this ..." It may be unusual, but she'll sincerely engage with the material at hand!
Can snails feel through their shells? "... it's hermit crabs who move to different shells, but snails are more attached to their shells throughout their entire lifespan. They'll die if removed from them. I don't quite know if their nervous system extends through their shells, but I'd actually lean towards 'yes' ..."
"As for the tongue ... Hmmm. A number of anatomical features are named in Latin. I'm familiar with a bit of that ... 'per aspera', 'nil desperandum', et cetera. The thousands of teeth makes me think the word would be descriptive ... an appendage with teeth would scrape, so perhaps derived from 'radere', meaning 'to scrape' ... 'radula'?"
"I vaguely remember that the Pacific and Indian Ocean have distinct sets of organisms living in their geothermal vents, but I don't think I can narrow it down any further than that ... " She looks to Umie and Rain. "If no one else has a better idea, I'll flip a coin. Heads Pacific, tails Indian." She flips a coin and it comes up heads. Should Rain or Umie not have anything better than this gamble (and it sounds like Umie's going with Pacific as well), Pacific'll be their answer.
While giving her commentary on the final question, Tamaki shakes her head. "The last one ... has me utterly stumped. I think that one's strictly in the realm of acquired knowledge." She looks over at Umie gratefully. "That's better than anything I could provide. African land snail it is."
<Pose Tracker> Ruzica Crvena has posed.
It looks like Yanagi's permissive with Ruzica's 'blunder'. By putting the onus on the owner on whether it's correct or not, she'll still have fulfilled her obligations as server, even if a 'blunder' is visibly a mark against perfect service... but, these are the kinds of minor disgraces one has to bear in order to serve their customer.
They try to hide the terror of Yanagi mentioning eating snails well underneath their face. And then Team Frost Fire bursts into a song about... well, is the Nutcracker really about ice and fire? I suppose you could be reductive about that in a sense...
Vivienne has some insights. Indeed, the Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean in the world, so perhaps that would increase their chances of being correct...? And, alas, Ruzica did try to add a trivia question about movies with snails but -- it TURNS OUT THERE AREN'T A LOT OF THEM. This is an injustice.
Next year, though, will be Ruzica's time to shine. ... but will she hate a snail with a Dreamworks smirk or not? That will truly be when her adoration of snails comes into question.
Yua wonders if she's working all alone tonight, when she arrives to deliver food. "`My colleague was not able to make tonight's shift, but we are making do,`" she politely answers the Okinawan. "`I am happy to serve, however.`" A refill of water, at this point.
But Alain refuses and calls her a gradient. There's a quiet nod as she does leave it at that. But... but later... Alain Wakamatsu does, in fact, impress Ruzica by answering all the snail questions correctly. Even the ones that aren't listed on the pose, because the gag is that this probably goes on for a bit.
Ruzica will remember that.
Ruzica does not, in fact, answer Pernelle, because she's still keeping her facade up for now. How interesting that the peacock is acquainted with so many people, though. And indeed, this peacock does eat burger with a certain deliberation that... for a moment, makes them connected, no matter what falsehoods Ruzica is putting up.
To burg out is, in fact, to be one. Rain knows this.
However, Ruzica is also impressed, silently, by Pernelle's tremendous knowledge of snails. Even if Pernelle knows of all this because he is, in fact, predator to her little adorables. ... she will still acknowledge his mastery in this topic. And perhaps in her heart Ruzica would award a little grade point for So-young's doodles of an adorable snail as an answer. But grade points are not trivia quiz points. They can only be redeemed after the game is over. Come back in New Game+ for more snail facts, So-young.
Miho has NO TIME for slow creatures, but believes in Yua anyway. It's a good thing their service is fast, then.
Umie has philosophical ponderances: if a snail is inside its shell, how does it know when to come out? And who amongst us can't relate to that, when we stay indoors and only come out when the time is right (the time is never)?? Tamaki has impressive snail prowess as well, coming at it from a very linguistic and academic approach. Adults sure do know a lot of things.
But eventually, time is up.
Ruzica returns to the stage and clicks through her science fair-esque presentation.
"The correct answers for this round are..."
1. True
2. Radula
3. Indian Ocean
4. The largest snail is the Syrinx Aruanus, or the Australian Trumpet Snail. However, the largest land snail is, indeed, the Giant African Land Snail.
"We also have deliberated and came to a conclusion for the extra prize. The honour goes to team 'Song of Frost and Fire', in no small part because there are not one, but two Cool S-es. The extra prize is..."
Still without breaking emotion, Ruzica reaches underneath the little podium and comes out with a box.
"A limited edition 1/12 plastic figure of an Australian Trumpet Snail," Ruzica declares without fanfare. "Congratulations to team Song of Frost and Fire on their new snailpla." The box is summarily handed over to Team Peacock Silk, which does include an overdramatic rendition of said snail and also a disclaimer that images on box are pre-painted and that the finished product may not look, in fact, as dramatic.
"The next round of questions will be worth double points, and be hosted by the purveyor of the Fleur de Lis, Eveline Deschamps."
Ruzica bows and steps away from the stage at this point, returning to refilling water, taking additional orders, continuing to pretend to not listen to Pernelle... the truly pleasing part of the night has passed for them. May her head be full of snail facts for the remainder of it all.
She does deliver Umie's croissant sandwich at this point.
<Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
As trivia starts, Eve doesn't speak. Instead, she listens to each group, monitoring.
Is everyone but the American a Persona User?!
She eyes Alain as he answers every question correctly. Well, she's not *at all* surprised. Though she does look away, at the memory of times they could have done something like this together.
Alas.
As Pernelle also gets the snail questions correctly, she's somewhat amused, watching him carefully.
When Ruzica's questions end and everyone is scored, however, Eve is heading over to trade off with her.
"We will do one more round, for a final total of eight questions. I hope you enjoyed the snail facts that Ruzica here prepared for you."
Yes, she's shunting the blame subtly. And also the praise!
She wanted to do easier questions first, but Ruzica decided to go first, so...
She'll use those now.
5. Why are flamingos pink?
6. What American primate did movie monster Stopzilla fight in 1962?
7. Who composed the opera, The Barber of Seville?
8. What is the origin of the word 'tennis'?
Maybe these questions should have led in the first place...
> Your Academics failed to rise, because you prepared the questions personally. Consolation prize: you are smarter about snails than half the room. (Thanks, Ruzica!)
<Pose Tracker> Rain Summers has posed.
Indeed, Madam Eve, how did poor Rain find herself in a room full of Persona users/bird understanders? She's normal, she swears.
"Well, that round was a bit of a wash. At least we've got some normal questions now." And wouldn't you know it, a question about creature features! Couldn't be more perfect if you tried!
"Ah, it was Duke Rilla vs Stopzilla. It was actually going to be Duke Rilla fighting Frankenstein's monster, but it was shopped to the owners of Stopzilla at the last minute. The suit actor for Duke Rilla went on to play Stopzilla's archnemesis Baron Plagula and, well, none of all that is relevant to the question. Should stop before I get ahead of myself, ehe."
She chuckles and writes down her answer, casting another quick glance towards the peacock. Her eyes must be messing with her, because she could swear the others were talking to it. I mean, people talk to their pets all the time, right? That's nothing, probably.
<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.
"Kipferl! Kipferl!" Yanagi echoes back at Pernelle, as if she were some pastry-based Pokemon. (One day, Fidough will be revealed upon the world, and it will be glorious.) "Croissant isn't a bad sound either, but kipferl does have a bit of a pop to it, doesn't it?"
Pernelle decides to forgive Ruzica's blunder, and Yanagi nods, accepting his judgment. He was the one who set the challenge, after all. Then he offers to save her a few snails from the garden next time he's out in it, and she brightens. "Oh! You can just eat them out of the garden? I hadn't realized! And you can eat the shells too? Yes, please do! I'd be delighted to try them! I thought you had to prepare them a special way!"
...Yanagi is perhaps forgetting that Pernelle is someone who will eat, just for example, a set of car keys. Nonetheless, she raises a finger. "But I'd still be interested to come back here to try them. Just because plain tater tots are delicious all on their own doesn't mean it isn't worth eating parmesan garlic tater tots!"
Impeccable logic, no? Yanagi does not notice the terror on Ruzica's inexpressive face. The disadvantages of deadpan... which, incidentally, is what those snails are going to be.
Umie and Tamaki get one last smile before the contest starts. More conversation will have to happen another time.
Yanagi looks at So-young curiously as she photographs Pernelle's burger. Pernelle does introduce her, and she lights up to hear that So-young is a patron of the arts--of the Tokyo Philharmonic, in fact. "Oh my goodness! How exciting!" she gushes. "Do you ever play classical ballet music? That's my favorite!" As made evident by the song she chose to sing.
But then So-young brings up her work as part of Peacock Silk, specifically the silver baton. "Oh! So that was for you!" she utters, eyes lighting in recognition. "I'm glad you're pleased with it, So-young! In fact..." She tilts her head, studying her face. Now that she's really paying attention, her features are familiar, and her name... "Are you, by chance, related to Myunghon Yeo? They're a dear friend of mine!"
She endears herself to her further when she 'conducts' Yanagi's singing. She beams at her as she lilts. A shame for the lack of violin indeed, but this too is wonderful! As for if The Nutcracker Suite is about ice and/or fire... it takes place during Christmas, and there's a fire in the hearth, is there not? That absolutely counts, probably!
It is saying something when Pernelle is the only member of a group who is on task.
When she's done her song, she jots down his answers, bouncing a bit in her seat from the thrill of song. ("HONK," Yua vocalizes from the other table, and Yanagi bursts into giggles. Goose...!)
The round ends. The answers are announced. And the winner of the best team name is...! "We won!" Yanagi utters, delighted. She accepts the snailpla box with sparkling grace, then holds it out to Pernelle and So-young in excitement. "We won!!" she repeats, bouncing in her seat again.
The next trivia round arrives! These are not snail-based questions. "Oh, I know the first one! Tsumugi told me this one too," Yanagi says with confidence to her trivia companions. "They told me flamingos are pink because they drink the blood of those foolish enough to swim in the same waters as them, and it dyes their white feathers pink!"
...that's... that's almost halfway correct...?
"The second one too! Stopzilla fought Duke Rilla," Yanagi continues with unerring
confidence, writing down her own answers. "As for The Barber of Seville, it was composed by Gioachino Rossini, with an
Italian libretto by Cesare Sterbini!" These are topics she actually knows, being a fan of not just ballet but opera and
movies, so this time she actually is right."
The last question, though... Yanagi only shrugs. "I don't know anything about tennis." She looks from Pernelle to So-young questioningly.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"Thank you!" Yua chirps, brightly, to So-young. "Oh, I hope it's a boy...!!" There is one thing, after all, which she is happy about without needing to force it, and so she naturally assumes that So-young's congratulations are over her future child.
Yua has more words for it in private, of course. ... though it isn't the public atmosphere which is making her give a good review of Kimitake. She really does think he's a nice, considerate man.
"`You're doing great,`" Yua encourages Ruzica. "`I remember having shifts like this when I was your age... it's a lot!`" ... Yua looks the part of a fabulously wealthy socialite, which might make it hard to believe she ever bussed tables, but... then again, Isabeau's a rich bitch, and she busses tables. Maybe some rich people are just weird.
She hands Remi some water, of course, when she hears her distress. She knows where the water is at all times!!
And seeing Miho smile at her honking, Yua resolves to honk even more loudly and proudly. (At least she can honk like that...)
... she does feel a little sad that Myunghon wasn't here to hear her honk, but there's a conversation she needs to have with them which she's a little glad she isn't having now, because regardless of how kind Kimitake is, she can tell his job is important to him.
"I--I'm fine," Yua says, though she touches Miho's arm, briefly, as if to draw support from the strength clearly written there. (That strength may indeed be intimidating for people like Tamaki; for Yua, though, it's comforting.) "I just... had a strange feeling..."
She smiles, though, when Miho makes her firm, declarative guesses. "Then... that must be it!" She declares, and then, with gusto: "HONK!!!"
Yua blinks, though, as the answers are revealed. "Eh... uh... radula...? I've never even heard that word..." That's apparently her biggest priority, over the fact that they lost the trivia contest. She does admire the snailpla, though... from afar!!
When Eveline announces her next round of questions, though, Yua brightens right up. "Oh! Oh! I know these ones!!"
Beat, "Um, except the one about the flamingo... but the other stuff!!"
She bounces in her seat, her hands flapping in delight in front of her, fingers curled. "Stopzilla fought Duke Rilla in 1962! It was called 'Duke Rilla versus Stopzilla'... it was the first time they both appeared in colour together!!" She's terrible at modulating her volume when she's excited, so she's definitely saying this loud enough for people to hear, but is anyone going to tell Yua she should quiet down? I think not. "And, and! And the Barber of Seville, that's a trick question!! It's a trick question because there were TWO! And it was supposed to be three! You see, when Pierre Beaumarchais first wrote the play, he really wanted it to be a opera, but they made him change it... but then, a few years later, Giovanni Paisiello made it into an opera! But that's not the opera most people think of! Because! A few decades later, Gioachino Rossini wrote one that was much more popular!!!"
Yua takes a breath. "And tennis is actually French, obviously!!!"
Yua is too excited to actually remember to say what the French word is, though, so Remi's going to have to help her out.
<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.
Oh, her food is here! Umie gives Ruzica an appreciative nod and a smile.
But it's time to get back to business... of trivial pursuits!
Why are flamingos pink? Umie gives a smug smile, her middle and ring fingers clasping delicately to her palm as she raises her head. "From the algae and the brine shrimp they eat. Next."
Stopzilla? She looks to Rain, who answers with a veracity that's impressive. "<Nice>," she complusively says, in accented English.
The third (well, 7, technically): "Hm... Rossini, I think." So-young will *definitely* know that one in full. Would Pernelle technically know the answer to the first (fifth) question by virtue of being a bird?
Does it even work that way? Do birds know other birds exist, besides themselves?
(Stop asking philosophical questions in the middle of a trivia quiz, Umie.)
Tennis, tennis... She looks helplessly to Tamaki and Rain, munching on her croissant-wich. Munchmunch.
<Pose Tracker> Vivienne Sournois has posed.
Vivienne offers a wink as Alain says he can always count on her. And soon enough, the questions.
"I believe they may just be genuinely enamored with the creatures." Vivienne offers. Still, the answer... Vivienne 'hm's to herself, trying to puzzle through them - but Alain says he's about to blow her mind.
...And, as she turns her attention to the answer sheet, he certainly does, alright. She doesn't know that his answers are correct... but from how confident he is about them, she has every reason to believe he thinks they are, and that's good enough. But still, that he has them so readily...
"...Why, Alain, I believe I'm seeing a side of you I never knew existed." Vivienne comments, mystified - and then laughs. "Well, I know when I'm bested! I'll pin my hopes on you."
...Was she considering it an internal competition up to this point...?
Which turns out to be the best, for when the correct answers are supplied... his answers are, in fact, correct.
"What do you know. Excellent work." She comments.
The extra prize for the team name goes out, about this time... and it goes to 'Song of Frost and Fire'(which is impossible to render here in its appropriate majesty, alas). Vivienne offers them polite applause. Snailpla, huh...
The next round of questions come out, and this is more Vivienne's speed.
"Ah, excellent. Let's see..." She 'hm's to herself.
"Flamingos... It's their diet, yes?" Vivienne considers. "It comes down to what they eat... shrimp, was it? But I can't recall the specific mechanism..."
She 'hm's to herself. The American primate, though - that's an easy one.
"Ah. It's Duke Rilla, of course." Vivienne answers proudly. "It's a marvelous spectacle, 'Duke Rilla versus Stopzilla'. ...Perhaps I should play it at the cinema tomorrow, now that I've been reminded."
She overhears answers from around her - and it seems like she isn't the only movie buff. People here tonight certainly have good taste...
"The Barber of Seville. That was... Mario Costa, wasn't it?" Vivienne considers thoughtfully.
...Her mind is still on movies after the previous question, so she's thinking about the first film adaptation, rather than the original. She might need to be course-corrected.
The last one, though, Vivienne looks smug about.
"That's an easy one. It's French, of course - from 'tenez'." She concludes - then looks to Alain for his input on her answers.
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
"Thank you dear," Remi murmurs as Yua hands her water.
Privately would be much better. Not that Remi wants to ruin their homecoming with dire discussions.
"Certainly, Miho," Remi agrees of the deliciousness of snails. "Though I do not know if I saw them on the menu... pity, that. Still, the coq au vin is exquise."
She reviews Miho's guesses. "Mm. We shall see, then." This might not be their round.
But the answers come, and... they didn't do so well. Well, Remi is hardly surprised or dismayed. Though she /is/ quite surprised to see... snailpla. "... how /curious/..." She looks to Miho and Yua for their takes. "If thta thing is really 1/12th scale..."
When Ruzica comes around, Remi will ask her to pass her compliments on her dish to the chef, and on the cocktail to the propieter. Credit where credit is due, after all!
But a new set of questions come, and at least some of these are far more up her alley. She smiles as Yua gushes about the answer--and she will have to entrust her with knowledge of Duke Rilla because she isn't so much an American movie buff. "I shall entrust that answer to you, my dear." But she's beaming as Yua susses out the trick question. "Quite right, dear, excellently said. The French word you're looking for is 'tenetz', meaning 'to hold, receive, or to take', if I am not mistaken."
"And Flamingos receive their pink coloration from the foods they eat, which includes shrimps and... algae, I believe."
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Miho is used to catching people off-guard, Tamaki. It's why she wins Gold!
(Doh, ho, ho...)
She nods to So-young in passing, with a pleased expression at her congratulations.
Ruzica's service is quite good! Miho has no complaints. They are not too slow.
But they got none of the answers right... hmmm. Miho is not accustomed to losing. On the other hand, this very much isn't her field. On the other hand...
"One day," Miho says to Yua, "I will conquer snails, as well."
The next questions...
Hmmmmm yes. Miho knows some of these immediately, of course. But the ones she knows might not be what is expected. "The beta-carotene in their diet," Miho tells Yua quietly. "It is a pigment... But they are fascinating creatures. They can survive in extremely inhospitable environments. Truly an example of nature's strength."
A nod to Remi. "Yes, indeed."
"...Though i had almost wondered if it was to be a 'theme' night..."
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
Honestly, Tamaki did enjoy the snail facts. At Eve's mention of it, she gives Ruzica a sunny smile! -- oh, come to think of it, the next time Ruzica comes around, Tamaki's about ready to politely ask for that cocktail. Zero rush at all, it is a busy night and the meal and drink she's had so far were already delightful.
Tamaki looks to the rest of her group for 5, 6, and 7. If she had ever known the answers to those questions, they've faded from her memory. Flamingos, maybe from science class forever ago. American monster movies are a far cry from her own media consumption habits, she's more of an X-Folders or Mirrored Mountains kind of girl, more into investigation television shows than into movies. Her interest in theatre is closer to home in the histories of kabuki or bunraku, so this one also eludes her ...
At least Rain's got them covered on the movie question. "That's a fascinating history behind the film. I wouldn't mind hearing more later. Goes to show you how much work goes behind the scenes."
Umie's answers elicit an double eyebrow-raise from Tamaki. "How did you know those? I'm not complaining, just curious. Impressed, even."
Tennis, on the other hand. Being both the sports and etymology nerd that she is, this is a gap she can fill. "Tenez, from French, meaning to take or receive, spoken by the person serving the ball to signal to their opponent that they should be ready. Similar to the referee asking prêts? in fencing."
<Pose Tracker> Alain Wakamatsu has posed.
Trivia night was always fun, when the two of them were on the same team. A distant memory.
Ruzica returns to the stage, and- he looks at the answers, before the extra prize is announced.
"Ah, it seems our team name failed to impress, Vivi." 'Failed to impress the Shadow' Despite the 'We' he's not blaming Eve for it. "... That is on me."
But the prize? "Strangely, no regrets." He quips drily as he looks at Pernelle... wondering if his rival tonight is going to be a Peacock Shadow, before Eve presents the next set of questions. He lets Vivienne work it all out, brow furrowing. "You're definitely correct on number five... and eight. I agree. It's the pigments they break down, I believe."
5. Their diet contains pigments.
8. Old French term 'tenez' for 'Receiving'
"Tell the pleasant prince this mock of his / hath turn'd his balls to gun-stones." He quotes Henry the V, quietly... right as Yua literally bounces across the room.
He does not look down upon it of course, he remembers how Pregnancy could swing Eve's moods all over the place.
"'Despite the best efforts of the boisterous shouting from across the room, I have no idea on the other two, but if you think it is so, then I would rely on your expertise when it comes to the cinema and theater any day, Vivi."
A quirk of a wan smile, before he writes down Vivienne's answers...
6. Duke Rilla
7.Mario Costa
<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
"Indeed!" Pernelle agrees with Yanagi. "Croissant is fun to say I admit, but kipferl! Their true name! I love it." Of snails he brightens at Yanagi. "Oh yes, good nutrition in the shells, I should think! But... yes, of course. It is about preparation at times, and I imagine they can be fancied up as much as a potato."
Tamaki winks at Pernelle and the peacock turns his head to wink right back. Which is probably not a behavior regular peacocks can readily perform.
What glorious music this group has now with Yanagi's singing and So-young's conducting! Pernelle heaves a contented sigh. Art is most powerful in these beautiful, unexpected moments. "Even without such an instrument, you demonstrate your commitment to sound flawlessly, So-young."
But the moment of judgment is upon them...! The answers! The knowledge! Has Pernelle lead his team... to victory?!
"....Syrinx Aruanus. Australian... Trumpet? What... musical mammoth has eluded me all this time?" His eyes go wide, staring into infinity.
My god, it's full of snails.
Lost in this reverie, he does not return to reality until they receive A SPECIAL PRIZE for all their cool S action. Pernelle's vision locks onto it, pupils becoming pin point before suddenly engulfing his entire eye until they are naught but black. Look at it. LOOK AT IT. Did she say... 1/12...?
His beak falls open again, and his tongue falls to the side, hanging out as he begins to drool. His wings begin to flap a bit as he looks to Yanagi and So-young, then back at the box with, "Aaa? Aaaaaaa?" sounds. Do they SEE it? Are they WITNESSING? Look at it! It's so glorious and delicious he's at a loss for words!
But hold on now! There's more quiz.
"Oh!" Pernelle clears his throat and turns to his conspirators, voice low again. Tsumugi informed Yanagi of the flamingos? "I didn't realize they knew so much about the flamingos' dirty little secret! Their waters are horrific, let me tell you. But it's true... there's pigment in that plankton for beautiful rose plumage. What is it called... ah! Captivating carmine and canary carotenoids. Something of the sort." He looks to the side as if a flamingo could be listening right now, and he were gossiping about a rival. "Don't tell any of them I told you."
The other questions have Pernelle stumped. He pecks at the sheet, but Yanagi has those answers. "Hm. Oh! Brilliant, Yanagi! Such wisdom you've brought to Team Song of Ice and Fire today!"
The last question, though...
"Tennis. Teeeeennis. Tenniiiiiis?" Pernelle cants his head far to one side as he feels the word around. "Ten...acity? Ten...dinous? Ten...ebrous. No that doesn't make any sense..."
The peacock doesn't speak French, outside of 'enchante' and 'croissant."
<Pose Tracker> So-young Park has posed.
Between the singing and the snail facts it does suddenly occur to So-young that their team might be a little lopsided, a theory that definitely gets borne out next round - but then, perhaps they'll be the _right_ kind of lopsided for a place like this. It feels like she's already in an opera, even before you add in the Nutcracker Suite for good measure.
At least she does not need grade points or quiz points for her doodle of a snail to have meaning. All she needs is the satisfaction of a well-drawn snail, and the warm glow of accomplishment that comes from it. They even get a special prize, proving above all else that their hearts are truly snail-aligned. (So-young is absolutely just rolling with this. It will be hours before she goes 'hang on, do I want to be compared to a snail?' and by then it will simply be too late.)
"On the contrary, my dear Pernelle. Anything can be an instrument if you simply try hard enough," she puts all her actress training into the wink she provides as the last 'ting' of her glass starts to fade away before a gentle finger on the rim of the glass silences it completely. With infinite care, she snaps her baton closed again, and places it in its case.
"Professionally, I conduct rather than play, but in my line of work you usually end up getting interested in both. I run the Shibuya Afternoon concerts in specific - they are meant for a somewhat young audience, so we do end up going through a lot of different themed events." So-young explains. "Sometimes it is 'classical music for angry people', sometimes it is 'as fast and joyous as we can imagine'. I'm the one responsible for working out the concert sets, though, so I can always sneak you a whole show of ballet music sometime if you'd like," she offers a second wink to Yanagi with a pleased smile, absolutely drinking this up.
"I promised Pernelle I'd bring my violin along next time I go to your store. And, I believe I have an instrument that I can lend out that can be played with beak and wing," she hums. "So I was planning something of a duet session." So-young is not yet admitting that the instrument she has in mind is a warbling nightmare that will haunt the store forever. So it goes.
"Oh-- yes, Myunghon is my sibling," she nods, her eyebrows raising. "If you haven't heard my name before, it is because we only learned of each other's existence a couple of months ago. There is rather a long story about that, but suffice it to say that Myunghon was the one who pointed me towards you in the first place. To be honest, I didn't think we shared that many features that I would be recognizable." This isn't true - their grey eyes are probably the most similar thing, and perhaps the preference for monochrome. And, yes, the Korean name.
They've won a snailpla! So-young laughs out loud at that, a joyous bark of noise. "Well, I think we know who did the most to earn that last round," she immediately offers the box in Pernelle's direction, unaware of the tasty nature of the present. Honestly, she would probably offer the prize to the peacock regardless of what it was, just to see the reactions more than anything.
"Ah, let's see - it's their diet, isn't it? Something about shrimp," So-young frowns at first, thoughtful. That is drinking the blood of their foes in a technical sense, so she decides to nod in agreement, counting off on her fingers as Pernelle ONCE AGAIN saves them. "Duke Rilla, certainly, and--" she's about to open her mouth when Yanagi answers the question even quicker than her, tilting her head towards the answer to allow it with a satisfied smile. Yes, she is entirely at home in this group. She even looks over to Yua with open admiration at the fullness of her answer, though So-young would definitely put money on 'Rossini' being the name on the judge's card.
Unfortunately... she falters on the last point, because French is very much not in her regular vocabulary unless you happen to be refering to a very narrow and themed list of terms whose topic rhymes with busical. "... did they perhaps yell 'tennis' when they won?" she ventures, tilting her head with a blank look.
<Pose Tracker> Ruzica Crvena has posed.
Ruzica doesn't seem to notice that Eve is (lightly) throwing her under the bus, because she's proud of snail facts and public transport. And the fact that she's giving up a precious treasure of limited edition snailpla tonight. Yanagi seems so very delighted by the fact that she won, however... and she's quite the movie and opera buff.
Remi's compliments are duly noted, though she does advise: "`Of the cocktail -- of course, it shall be Madame Deschamps herself. But I shall pass the compliments to the chef as well.`"
Ruzica also didn't forget about Tamaki's cocktail, and in fact, by the time she comes around to the Detectives again, she offers the Rooster's Call. "Uchida-san, the cocktail you desired later. And I can take your order for food now, if it would please."
There is a moment where Pernelle's gaze on the box is of such desire that his eyes have eclipsed the sun. He's drooling, tongue falling to the side, and at this point Ruzica is fervently decided on one thing:
Target confirmed to have maximum threat potential. (to snails)
It's okay, Alain. Ruzica might've been a smidge vindictive too. Also, if people found out, they'd blame them of colluding?? The Wild Hunt, in collusion! It's a strategic decision to deter suspicion, you see.
...
At this point, Ruzica's introvert battery is completely dry and she has to pick up plates and then flee into the kitchen, where she allows herself to power all the way down and for the first time in the night sighs, even if the expression on her face still hasn't changed.
But perhaps it's now more honest to herself.
Ombré.
Grabbing an apron to put on, she rolls her sleeves up and starts on stacking dishes in the commercial dishwasher, because those are activities she can do without thinking. Dissociatin' with the Dishes!!
But Ruzica's not about to just completely tune out of trivia. Internally, Ruzica gives the questions a fair shot while she works at the back of house:
5. They ate a lot of carrots... a guy became orange because he ate a lot of carrots too. Then, to get to pink, the flamingos pinky-swore with each other.
6. Everyone knows that it's M.K., Mule Kong. He's the leader of the bunch--
7. Vivienne Sournois (would know). This is a factually correct answer.
8. There was a legend about how the ancient sport was performed by the Ten Kings of Nis, now the third largest city in Serbia, and thus: Ten Nis.
...
...
> Your Guts tells you you're absolutely correct. Well done, Ruzica! (it's still hungry, though.)
> (Perhaps you should listen more to your Academics score, however...)
<Pose Tracker> Eveline Deschamps has posed.
Everyone answers. Eve is watching carefully, tallying up scores. She does aside to glance as Ruzica leaves, though,
Her eyes linger on the people she knows best, followed by everyone else. She has personal tallies - she's watching her comrades' team closely, as well as the Peacock Silk team. They're most likely to take it, right?
5. Due to their shrimp and algae-based diet providing pigments called beta-carotene
6. Duke Rilla
7. Giovanni Paisiello OR Gioachino Rossini
8. The French word 'tenez', aka hold, take, or receive
Eve starts to rank teams after that, reading their results as she gathers them and tallying in her head flawlessly, before taking the mic again.
"In fourth place, with a valiantly obtained eight points... Golden Goose!"
"In third place is A Song of Frost and Flame, with nine points!"
"And in an upset, the winner..."
"Tied for first are Équipe: Mort de Rire and Detection Division, with ten points! Congratulations."
Some may see Eve pausing as a question on 'how are they going to reward two first place winners'.
If they really think that Eveline Deschamps didn't have an answer to this, they do not know her.
Instead, she moves to grab two identical medallions from her pocket, each ascribed with a Fleur de Lis and the words 'TRIVIA NIGHT #1 CHAMPION' in French.
"As a follow-up, all contestant teams will have a discount on their next visit. Please, we do hope you return."
And then, Eve disappears down the back, after a quick round of check-ins to make sure everyone's okay.
She needs a smoke break.
<Pose Tracker> Vivienne Sournois has posed.
"Alas." Vivienne laments with a shrug, as Alain comments on their failure to impress. "Perhaps we should have introduced more fascinating symbols into our name. Perhaps an octothorpe, next time? I understand those are popular these days."
Alain confers on his answers.
"Ah, yes - that makes sense." She agrees with a thoughtful nod. The pigments... She overlooked such a simple answer. She'll accept his answers - and he accepts hers.
The true answers are provided and -
"Ah! Giovanni Palsiello and Gioachino Rossini... Of course! Of course." Vivienne sighs, shaking her head. Now that she hears that, it's obvious where she went wrong. "I was thinking of the film production. My apologies, Alain. I was too focused in on one subject, as it were."
Her mistake hasn't cost them the competition... but it does mean that they're tied with first place. Vivienne can't help but chuckle. This kind of interesting outcome definitely makes her faux pas worth it in the end.
"You all fought valiantly. It was a remarkable battle, was it not?" Vivienne observes, looking around at the other teams. "And as for you, Detection Division... I'm most impressed. Congratulations."
She looks upon them with interest.
<Pose Tracker> Rain Summers has posed.
Rain claps her hands together as the results are announced. "Alright! Hey, maybe I'm cut out for detective work, haha! I'll be sending my resume over to Kuzunoha next week!"
She chuckles and waves her hand. "Kidding. I got a pretty good thing going. Come on down to my video store over in Shibuya, Central Street. Look for the palm trees, can't miss it."
She looks over to Vivienne with a nod and a thumbs up! You should DEFINITELY stop by, I think.
<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.
The announcement of the quiz results comes, but something a little more important is happening for a certain peacock.
So-young offers the box of the snailpla in Pernelle's direction, and he looks at her with those eyes still so big, as if he has never witnessed such kindness in his life. He smooshes his peacock face up against it, nuzzling it with a sniff.
He pushes so far into the box with his face that it slides far enough for his head to thonk on the table. He remains in this horizontal position, as if paralyzed by his happiness...
... and takes giant bites of the food Yanagi's ordered for him while crying his tears of joy.
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
Miho will conquer snails. "I have no doubt of that, my dear."
And a grateful nod as Miho supplies a particular detail for one of the answers. "I see," she says. "That is quite useful to know." She considers. "Well, two of the questions are about French topics, and 4 were regarding snails... I do not suppose there were four more snail questions waiting...?"
Remi can't hear you quoting Shakespeare, Alain, but she would appreciate you if she could!
"`Naturally,`" Remi says to Ruzica regarding the cocktail. "`Thank you greatly, dear.`"
But the results are in, and... they came in fourth--but at least they got all of the non-snail questions. "Ahh, c'est la vie," she says, raising her glass to her teammates, giving both Yua and Miho a smile. "Still, the company is reward enough. Santé!"
<Pose Tracker> Alain Wakamatsu has posed.
"Don't worry about it... Vivi. We can do far worse than tying for first." Alain says her way, but he does give her the Medallion, "I think you'll have more use for the discount than I."
The reason is rather obvious, as his eyes follow Eve to take her smoke break, before he looks towards the group that Vivienne is approaching.
There is... a curious look, before he gets up. He's gone before Eve gets back.
-=-=-
"Your ads were well made, I saw them on the way to work this week... ah - yes, I was there tonight, I took part in their trivia contest. We tied for first actually... it was a little unusual, the questions."
...
"We spoke only in passing, really." He says while rubbing his eyes, a phone pressed against his ear.
...
"Yes... it was nice to see her again, ma fifille, just- complicated... ah, sorry, it slipped out without thinking."
...
"Would you mind if I called you again this week? I don't want to take up too much of your time on vacation, but..."
...
"... Soon then. Have a good night, Yuri."
He puts the phone away and begins to walk. He likely won't stop even after the clock strikes twelve and the hour between begins.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yua's mood swing is a big tire and it goes wheeeeeeeeeeeee
"Right! Yeah, tenez! I like these questions so much more!!" Yua bubbles, to Remi. And Miho --
Miho knows the one thing they don't know!! "Mimi!" Yua chirps, happily, flapping her hands with more excitement. "You know so many bird facts!! And I bet you'll know everything about snails soon, too!"
She pauses. "Mimi, can we go get snails? I bet there's a place that does them around here..." Fleur de Lis does not appear to serve snails.
But then, the tally...! "Huh? We lost?" Yua blinks, owlishly, looking quite surprised. She's quiet for a moment, before she turns to Miho and Remi, smiling brightly again.
"There's really a first time for everything!!"
Like losing is some exotic new experience they've only now had...