Love Springs Eternal (??)

[bright_and_blue]

Who: ERRYBODY
What: It's Valentine's Day, and there are matchmaking notices everywhere. Here's an open log for one and all to post their shenanigans, meet ups, freak outs, and whatever else they're going to do about this.
When: forward dated to Feb. 14
Where: All over Aqures Ixen
Warnings: Ridiculousness.

[Plastering the city are notices matching up all of the Heroes of Light with one another, both the best and the worst. Moogles are having a grand old time handing them out and hanging them up, and are encouraging Heroes to speak with their top matches.

Naturally, reactions to this are mixed. Some Heroes are intrigued, some annoyed, some offended. Despite their feelings or misgivings, the rest of the city is still celebrating Valentine's Day as well, and now the thoughts of love are everywhere.

OOC: This is an open log for everyone to use for Valentine's Day stuff! Feel free to make your own prompts.]

Comments

[red_planet_blues]

[Results for Sparks Nevada:
Aya Brea - 96%
Yuffie Kisaragi - 92%
Rukia Kuchiki- 88%

Terra Branford - 5%
Ellie von Spielburg - 3%
Ramza Beouvle- 1%

Let's face it: Sparks Nevada has been a bit on the lonely side lately. Not that he lets on too much, of course. So seeing something like this was like a sucker punch to the stomach. He wasn't expecting it, and he has no idea what to make of this. His moogle, Red, is helpfully displaying it on a sign board so that hopefully he and his lovely top choices would take notice. Sparks looks unamused.]

Reckon one of those is a subordinate, one of those doesn't understand human dating stuff, and one is Yuffie. What kinda weird joke is this.

So what if she's a coworker, kupo! A 96% match is really good! And there's got to be something between you and Yuffie, right?

[Sparks looks like he's got a headache that's now growing.] If'n that something is a lotta mutual animosity, sure. We got that in spades. Besides, she's like... 16 or something. Gross. You moogles need new hobbies, y'hear me?

[zodiac_brave]

[Ramza generally does not try to eavesdrop on conversations, but he tends to home in on mentions of Yuffie, especially in romantic contexts. Someone has to protect her from getting her heart broken.]

Indeed. These results are ridiculous. I dearly hope the moogles did not spend much coin or time on this...this claptrap.

[He came closer to examine Sparks' flier. His eyes went wide in surprise.]

80s and 90s? And your worst matches are higher than my best? [He eyes Sparks suspiciously.] It seems the moogles think very highly of you...

[red_planet_blues]

[Sparks Nevada is the last person in the world you have to worry about with Yuffie in that sort of regard. The only time he ever even tries to get near here is when he's trying to haul her off to jail. Sparks answers dryly as ever.]

Yeah, they're awful proud of themselves for slappin' some names next to numbers and seein' what happens next.

[Red folds her arm and shakes her head.] There's a whole computer program for this, kupo. It's very scientific!

Totally scientific. Y'know Yuffie and I hate each other, right?

[He sighs, shaking his head, and turns to Ramza.] And we're apparently almost completely incompatible. Try not to let it break yer heart, Ramza.

[zodiac_brave]

[Ramza holds out his result sheet to Sparks. The highest match, Yuffie, is 3%, and the rest are even lower.]

I am 'scientifically' not compatible with anyone, according to this. Did I offend the moogles somehow?

[At least at home, when people told him he should die alone, it was due to his birth or his supposed heresy. He did not know what he was supposed to attribute it to here.]

[red_planet_blues]

[Red gasps in horror at those stats. Even Sparks has to grimace at it.] Ouch. Well, ya won't get any competition outta me for her.

Look, I wouldn't put any stock into this. It's probably all just random names 'n numbers. 'Specially since the ball 'a fluff can't explain the [he airquotes] "science" behind this.

I didn't make the program, kupo, I don't know everything about it.

[zodiac_brave]

Do you know anything about it? [He asked the moogle desperately.] Is it a moogle that thinks I am inept, or a computer device? There must be some reason it is thus.

[He could not share Sparks' apathy to the situation. It had to mean something, otherwise the moogles would not have made so many copies and plastered them around the city.]

[red_planet_blues]

[Red pouts, feeling bad for Ramza. She gives him a reassuring pat.]

It's a computer! I don't know how they calculate it, but maybe you can go to Palitutu's lab and ask, kupo.

[Sparks wasn't as totally apathetic about this as he let on, but that didn't make him any less embarrassed on Ramza's behalf.]

Ramza. It don't mean anythin'. For all ya know some moogle fell asleep on the keyboard, 'n that's how ya got those numbers.

[damn_juicebox]

[She's not sure if she should be angry at that or not. Well, whatever. She's not placing much stock in those results, or in the ones that she got.]

If you changed your mind about the chocolate, you should have let me know sooner. Here.

[Rukia steps up and pushes a small cardboard box into his hands. Inside is a trio of chocolate bunnies, all sporting hand-decorated neckties made of white chocolate. It might be cute, but considering Rukia is the artist, well... They're unique in any case.]

Happy Valentine's Day.

[red_planet_blues]

Oh, uh. Hi, Rukia.

[He takes the chocolates, and it takes him a moment of looking them over to get an idea of what they're supposed to be.]

Hey, thanks. Reckon I don't know the first thing about makin' desserts, so uh, I made this.

[He pulls out a Valentine's card out of his back pocket and hands it to Rukia. It's cut into the shape of a bunny. Even Sparks can get something right sometimes.]

[damn_juicebox]

What's this?

[She arches an eyebrow as she carefully takes the card. Didn't they agree to exchange chocolate? This is not chocolate at all. Did she misunderstand? ...Oh, so he doesn't know how to make chocolate? She's still confused, but that perplexed look vanishes the moment she realizes THIS CARD HAS A BUNNY SHAPE.]

Oh! This is cute!

[Rukia is staring at it like some great golden treasure, and opens it to see if anything is written inside.]

[red_planet_blues]

[Inside is a pretty generic Happy Valentine's greeting, with a P.S. at the bottom that mentions an IOU for chocolate.]

I, uh, didn't have time to learn to make 'em, what with work and all. So you'll get 'em. At some point. ... It'll be a surprise?

[damn_juicebox]

Hm hm~ For both of us, it would seem.

[She's not above a little light teasing. She seems pretty happy just from the card alone. Rukia inclines her head.]

Thank you. It's nice to indulge in these traditions occasionally.

[red_planet_blues]

Yeah, I thought this sorta thing would be up yer alley.

[Something dawns on Sparks, and he smirks.]

Y'know, spring's coming, and that means so is that ridiculous chocolate egg holiday. You're gonna love that one. S'all got to do with this talking rabbit that delivers eggs.

[forcegalactic]

[It shouldn't be any surprise that the Barkeep is drawn to these flyers, Sparks Nevada being a target of special interest.] Aya Brea and Rukia? Huh, looks like the machine's sorta on-spot. [Rukia can be a bit odd for Sparks, but he's certain that can work out. Certainly!]

You gotta admit, they put a lotta work into this!

[So proud of those Moogles.]

[red_planet_blues]

What? [Sparks's reply is a bit fast.] No, this is just-- Y'know, this is all moogle nonsense. There ain't any science behind this.

[Red folds her arms and gives Sparks a hmph. He just won't listen to her! At least Barkeep gets it.]

If by "work" ya mean "meddling", maybe.

[forcegalactic]

They only got our best interests when they got this whole project set up, ain't exactly "meddlin'" if it's a suggestion.

[red_planet_blues]

You 'n I got real different definitions of the word "suggestion", then. The only interests they got in mind is their own gossip.

You've been single since you arrived here, kupo, and I know you're not happy about that. Why not accept the suggestions?

Whoa whoa whoa. Who said I'm not happy? I didn't say I'm not happy. I'm totally happy. I got work. I got a world to save. I got a planet to get back to. Who's got time to worry 'bout dates?

[forcegalactic]

Suuure you are. Between holin' yourself up in yer office and gettin' beat on by monsters, you must be havin' the time of your life.

[An overtly friendly pat on the back, which the Barkeep adds a sigh to.]

All this stress is gonna turn you old fast, Sparks Nevada. You gotta find time to relax and get your mind offa this end of the world business! Look at pretty much everyone else! They ain't losin' anythin' by havin' fun durin' their downtimes, why don't you?

[red_planet_blues]

Nothin', sure. Nothin' but time ticking off the apocalypse clock, is all.

[Sparks couldn't deny that he was tired off all this world-ending nonsense, but he wasn't about to admit that. That would be like admitting defeat.]

Reckon I just wanna get back to Mars, Barkeep. Been way, way, way too long on this planet now.

[needsteaplz]

Tell me about it.

[Saori gave a nod to the board once she confirmed her name wasn't on it. She couldn't help but overhear Sparks and Red. Part of her was glad she and Mary started to go steady just in time. She'd hate to see what her results would've looked like.]

If it makes you feel better, I told Brigid we're not doing another dating auction this year. She's busy with another project apparently.

[red_planet_blues]

Good. [Maybe he answers that a little too fast. The date auction hadn't gone well for him.] I mean... We oughta do somethin' else anyway. Keep things fresh. Totally.

[needsteaplz]

I don't know, she still did her evil planning laugh.

[She looks at the flyer again. Some of the names were rather familiar to her. Then an idea began to form. Maybe if she could convince Sparks to go easy today, she could leave early enough to do something with Mary.]

Though as much as you don't want me to say it...maybe your moogle has point? Well, maybe it doesn't have to be a romantic date. I mean, she's one of our newest additions to the force, right? Think of it as a way to getting to know the rest of the heroes.

And maybe giving your eyes a break from all that paper work? You're gonna strain your eyes if you keep doing that nonstop.

[red_planet_blues]

What? I mean... I guess not, but... [That would just be hanging out, then, but the context of a "non-romantic date" made it sound childish.]

If I have time for it. There's always a lot to be done. Today's no exception. Crime doesn't stop to hand out Valentine's.

[needsteaplz]

True, but maybe luck will be on your side and the paperwork will be light? Even then, I'm sure there'll be enough officers around for coverage for all of us to leave early if our boss allows it.

[There are some times when Saori was just as bad as Brigid. If she could duck out after this fast enough, she might be able to make that paper mountain in Sparks's inbox vanish if not cut down to a very minimal size for the day. Was it dangerous to get between Sparks Nevada and his one of two great loves? Quite possibility but she wanted her date time and as part of the Assassin's Creed would say "everything is permitted." It's why she always keeps a pint of gelato hidden in the break room for emergencies.]

[red_planet_blues]

Eh, maybe. Some days 'r easier than others, I guess.

[An idea dawns on Sparks, and his eyes narrow at her.]

What's yer angle here, Nakagawa.