AWASH

It was hard to say whether or not such a specific date might be a good time for a party. With how Chroma seemed to function, and the now constant looming threat of the forest creeping ever closer, and the new quests that kept rolling out that were far less than kind, was there really any good time? No, probably not, so making the best of the clear weather was really the only thing that was going to be mustered.

Regardless, if you’re here early, either to help out finishing setup details, scope out the area, or just be a general menace, you’ll be met with the center of town being nicely decorated with a good bunch of flowers, and the area tidy and not a single loose stone or brick for anyone to fall over in sight. Whatever fabrics or paints that actually had color in this dull town had been hung up with various not-professional-but-the-thought-was-still-there designs and patterns to make it seem more lively than last year.

Decorations aside, more color resided in the food being placed on the tables, if you decided to gorge yourself before the dancing begins (not suggested, but you do you!), or maybe you convinced Caramia (or Kyrie, for those too young to drink) to spare some of the alcohol he’s apparently been hoarding for an event like this and were getting Less Than Sober before things began (also not suggested, but you can’t spell party without “I made mistakes”.)?

All in all, so long as you’re having fun, there shouldn’t be an issue, right?

Caramia may be the one to demand everyone's attention to gather around to hear the results of the voting, but it's Kyrie who takes up the front to handle things from there. He explains that, just like last year, all the nominees should step forward as they're called, and then the winner for each category will be rewarded, probably. Whether or not everyone follows that rule--particularly those who may be familiar with the event--is, of course, another story.

For King, the nominees are: Lan Wangji, Duo, Wei Wuxian, Red Saber, Blue Saber, Caramia, Lupin, Shen Qingqiu, Xie Lian, Sinistra, and Tonbokiri. The winner, Shen Qingqiu, is awarded a flower crown with too many petals and colors to ever be on someone's head, while Blue Saber is announced as Prince and presented with another of the same, although with a somewhat more reasonable amount of flowers. Shen Qingqiu also gets five (5) ballots mysteriously written by Dextera's chickens (their names are written plainly over the top)... how strange.

For Queen, the nominees are: Shiho, Pyra, Sierra, Maya, Red Saber, Maribelle, Kaoru, and Nero. The winner, Pyra, is given yet another flower crown, although this one seems more intentionally crafted to make the wearer look especially stunning. The Princess is announced as Maya; there may be fewer flowers in her crown, but it's obvious there's just as much care put into their arrangement.

For Fool, announced over some complaints by Caramia, the nominees are: Keigo, Wei Wuxian, Archer, Mordred, Akira Kurusu, and Magilou's Menagerie. The winner may be Wei Wuxian, but this year, things go a little bit differently! After careful deliberation, Kyrie's decided he's feeling generous, and since he knows how badly Keigo tried for the title, the votes will include a runner-up as well. So, while Wei Wuxian is announced to be the King's Fool, Keigo is announced as the Queen's Fool for the year. Congratulations to the both of them, and Kyrie thanks them cheerfully for their boundless incompetence--although, with the sudden addition to the vote, he's afraid they won't be receiving any prizes. Sorry!!

For the Most Positive Red, the nominees are: Akira Fudo, Maya, Red Saber, Wei Wuxian, Kaoru, Pyra, and Caramia. The winner, Maya, is presented with a neatly made crown of red roses.

For the Most Positive Blue, the nominees are: Noctis, Archer, Pyra, Nyx, Dextera, Xie Lian, Lan Wangji, Shen Qinqiu, Keigo, Duo, and Rin. The winner, Pyra, gets a flower crown of her own made of blue tulips.

For the Most Positive Yellow, the nominees are: Nominations: Shiho, Berserker, Mami, Ruler, Tonbokiri, Link, Maribelle, and Kyrie. As for the winner, it looks like the results are actually tied! Shiho and Tonbokiri are called up, but as there's only one flower crown left--made of yellow peonies--they're welcome to do with it as they will.

For the Best Friends, the nominees are: Kaoru and Shiho, Ardyn and Shen Qingqiu, Red Saber and Wei Wuxian, Red Saber and Archer, Kyrie and Caramia, Xie Lian and Wei Wuxian, and Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian. Hopefully everyone has fun trying to shuffle around to stand next to the person they've been voted with, it looks like there are some popular folks this year. However, the winners by a landslide are Kaoru and Shiho, who not only get the opportunity to high-five in front of everyone, but also get a small pot with some ivy and the suggestion that it might do good to replant it elsewhere.

For the Town Heartthrob the nominees are: Lupin, Archer, Pyra, Hanguang-Jun, Sierra, Maya, Mythra, Red Saber, Maribelle, Magilou, Berserker, Blue Saber, Luo Binghe, Shiho, and Anyone But Keigo. (Ah--whoops! Now, how did that last one slip in? What a mystery.) It looks like there's another tie here, between Archer and Pyra! Only, wait... what's this? A spare ballot is pulled from Kyrie's pocket, and after he's scribbled something down he holds it up and announces that there's unfortunately been another miscount! A mysterious last minute voter has once again decided it: Pyra is the sole winner, this year. It's likely best that she doesn't receive a reward, since this category seems to be haunted by some vengeful spirit of the town.

For Best Smile, the nominees are: Maya, Pyra, Wei Wuxian, Dextera, Keigo, Red Saber, Shen Qingqiu, Maribelle, Archer, Kaoru, Caramia, and Uki Yamazoe. The winner is, once again, Pyra! Although she won't receive a prize for this category either, Kyrie's certain the obvious adoration from the town ought to be reward enough.

For the Biggest Drama Queen, the nominees are: Shen Qingqiu, Wei Wuxian, Mazhigigika Miludin do Din Nolurun Dou, Archer, Kyrie, and Keigo, and it looks like there's yet ANOTHER tie! The winners are Wei Wuxian, Archer, and Keigo. Congratulations to all three for proving that their overreactions are, in fact, the biggest in town. They also won't be receiving a reward, but here's hoping they won't make too big of a fuss about it.

For the Most Helpful, the nominees are: Noctis, Xie Lian, Dextera, Shen Qingqiu, Kaoru, Keigo, Shiho, Maya, Pyra, Archer, and Red Saber. This very nearly results in yet another five-way tie, but a single vote pushes Xie Lian above the rest... so, for doing what is so clearly the most helpful thing anyone's done yet, the one who placed that last vote, Shiho is declared the winner! She gets a small badge made from a button and some cloth that Caramia put together. It's nothing fancy, at least, so Xie Lian certainly isn't missing out at all.

For Most Trustworthy the nominees are: Cairngorm, Lan Wangji, Duo, Xie Lian, Akechi, Tonbokiri, Ruler, Red Saber, Lupin, Archer, Rin, Blue Saber, Pyra, and Akira Kurusu. The winner, Tonbokiri, receives a small bouquet of various flowers, and the knowledge that he has the trust of a town full of mostly idiots. Thank goodness he's not someone who would betray that fact.

For Most Sarcastic, the nominees are: Sierra, Shiho, Kaoru, Kyrie, Crowe, Cairngorm, Choubee, Maribelle, and Whatever Guy. The winner is Shiho, who is told quite simply to keep up the good work! He's sure she'll continue to be an incredible influence over the town. Really.

For Most Daring, the nominees are: Akira Fudo, Ryo, Wei Wuxian, Maya, Caramia, Blue Saber, Link, Red Saber, Keigo, Kasen, Mordred, Nero, and forum user #E2D383. This results in another tie between Wei Wuxian and Blue Saber, who are offered a shot of rum each.

For Most Accident-Prone, the nominees are: Caramia, Akira, Keigo, Wei Wuxian, Xie Lian, Mordred, Shen Qingqiu, and the Glowing Chick Who Fell Asleep On Mordred, if she would be so kind as to share her identity with the crowd. There seems to be yet another tie here, with Caramia and Xie Lian as the winners. Kyrie's all too happy to share his deep-set disappointment in the both of them, and tells them they won't be getting any prizes for having such a terrible reputation. Hopefully they won't let him trip them as they leave, because rest assured: he will try.

For Best Dressed the nominees are: Ryo, Pyra, Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji, Maribelle, Blue Saber, Archer, Mordred, Lupin, Shen Qingqiu, Berkut, Kaoru, Shiho, and Red Saber. It looks like Maribelle has defended her title from the previous year, and receives yet another hideous set of clothing from around the town for her efforts! Congratulations, Maribelle.

For Worst Dressed, the nominees are: Mordred, Red Saber, Connor, Kyrie, Caramia, and The Town's Original Inhabitants. However, seeing as there were more votes for Everyone than any individual, it looks like their collective prize is that everyone gets to go home a winner tonight! Or maybe they're all losers? Oh well.

For Most Likely to Get Lost in the Forest, the nominees are: Magilou, Duo, Shen Qingqiu, Dextera, Berserker, Xie Lian, Maya, Wei Wuxian, Sinistra, Keigo, and Caramia. The winner, Xie Lian gets an old, broken compass, which will be exactly as much help in finding his way back as he might be to anyone else.

For Most Likely to Burn Down the Forest, the nominees are: Mordred, Wei Wuxian, Shiho, Berkut, Kaoru, Sierra, Maribelle, and Choubee. This results in the final tie of the evening, with both Mordred and Shiho declared equally dangerous to trees everywhere, malevolent or otherwise. They each receive a bucket, and a cheerful reminder to please try not to burn anything too close to the town or in anyone's homes--and yes, Shiho, he's looking at you.

For Most Likely to Complete a Quest, the nominees are: Maya, Pyra, Dextera, Blue Saber, Red Saber, Shiho, Nyx, and Kaoru. Pyra is announced as the winner, although since she's apparently so good at gathering rewards of her own, she won't receive a prize for this category either.

And finally, for Most Likely to Fail a Quest, the nominees are: Ryo, Wei Wuxian, Sierra, Caramia, Archer, Ardyn, Xie Lian, and Mordred. Kyrie is pleased to announce Sierra as the winner, and equally pleased to let her know that her reward is aaaaaabsolutely nothing, although she's welcome to his company if she so desires it at any point during the evening.

[ The OOC spreadsheet with all the results can be found here! ]

And of course, as is tradition (or, it is now, anyway, because who’s going to stop Caramia from making it so?), the King and Queen are meant to start off the first dance together, followed soon after by the Prince and Princess. Everyone else, of course, is welcome to trickle in after as they please!

The metaphorical stage is open to the bold few who wish to liven the place up with songs, but otherwise the music is provided between Summer’s magic or Caramia’s guitar.

Away from the general area that had clearly been meant for dancing had been a couple of tables. They seemed inconveniently placed away from the food, as well, which might lead one to wonder if they were just extras that weren’t needed, had it not been for the fact they had all been cutely set up for two people. Upon investigation, one of the tables had a sign up sheet for something called “fast friends” with the instructions below… sounding suspiciously like speed dating.

If you sign up, or sign someone else up, or just so happen to end up on the signing sheet somehow, when the time comes for this to begin, Caramia will find you to shuffle you over to the seating areas, cheerily meeting any complaints with encouragements like “don’t be shy!” and “it’s rude to keep them waiting!”

Fortunately, there’s also papers set in front of you with a list of icebreakers, handwritten by Caramia in legible print, albeit not the prettiest handwriting in the world. There are a few Chroma-themed questions: “Do you have a favorite book?”, “What’s your favorite color, and have you seen it in Chroma yet?”, “What’s the most interesting thing you’ve received from here?”, “What’s the most interesting quest you’ve been on?”, as well as some standard icebreakers if none of those meet your fancy.

There are also a few, uh... less generic papers scattered among the rest, written in a significantly neater cursive. They feature such questions as: "Do you prefer to play with yourself, or with others?", "What position would you most like to see yourself in?", "Do you take the top or bottom bunk?", and a couple of others dipped in various degrees of innuendo. Fortunately there don't seem to be as many of these? Actually, it sort of looks like someone slipped them in at the last second...

[ To keep the speed dating aspect authentic, it’s recommended that you keep your thread to about 5-8 replies each. This is only a recommendation though! Everyone is welcome to have fun with it however they prefer! ]

If you’re interested enough in the collection of old, tattered stuffed toys that needed quite a bit repair before they were truly considered charming, you’d find they were accompanied by a note that read “Please do not take! These are meant to be prizes for winning the surrounding games. Winners may have one!”.

Sure enough, surrounding it, there were a few tables set up, one with makeshift bean bag on it, adjacent to a table with some cans stacked in a pyramid shape. There’s a note one the bean bags reading: if you knock over the cans with just two bean bags, get a prize!

And on another table, there’s something similar, only with five small golf-sized balls instead of bean bags, and a couple of teapots with their caps gone. The rules for this one simply read, “Get three balls in the pots and win a prize!”

There’s something to be said about who’s even resetting these things when someone plays them, or how anyone is supposed to monitor the distribution of prizes. This was clearly not very well thought out. Or maybe there was just a little too much trust put into other people? More than likely it was a bit of both.