There's a haggard looking old lady running a small wooden cart that at first glance seems as though it's seen better days, countless winters and a dozens of events such as this. The woman is busy dabbling in what looks like potion making until you approach the stand and you can smell the alluring scent of freshly made...tea?
A weathered sign is hung up on the side of the cart that reads Madame's Tea Cart in gilded swirls of silver and gold, the metallic finish so fresh it almost glistens with a wet shine-- a drastic difference from the weathered paint and faded colors beneath it. Beneath the name, the words are scribbled in shaky black paint - not for the faint of heart.
An odd thing to put on a tea selling cart but the smell has you committed to at least investigating the old woman's wares.
As you approach, she's quick to pull out a handful of jars, each one marked with hand-written labels, the color yellow and peeling. Leaves sit in each jar, varying in shades and color. Before you have a chance to walk away, she explains her sales:
"I don't want your money, dear. I'm much more interested in a trade. One item close to your heart in exchange for a tea that will change your world - of my choosing, of course."
She pauses, offering a warm grin, eyes twinkling as one gnarled hand pats the top of the closest jar of tea leaves before she continues. "Or, if you're feeling generous, you can simply answer my three questions for one cup of tea of your choosing."
A simple offer... so why do you suddenly feel hesitant?
How to Play
You can choose one of two ways to obtain the tea for your character:
1. You can trade her an item of sentimental value in exchange for a tea of her choosing. She's pretty open about what she receives but it must have sentimental value to your character of some kind (so no random rock that you just found on the ground but if your grandpa gave you a smooth stone once with a story that has stayed with you over the years, it would count). Don't try to trick her - she'll know if you're trying to pull the wool over her eyes.
Randomize 1-6 or roll 1d6 to determine which tea your character will be given. Use the numbers below next to the tea descriptions to see which tea you'll be drinking and the effects of it.
-OR-
2. You can answer three questions in exchange for a tea of your choosing. Writing at least 350 words will allow you to take the tea. 500 words will qualify you for both an entry into the raffle and a solo requirement for your character. The questions can be found under whichever tea you choose to drink and you do not need to randomize any numbers.
Rules
You may use multiple characters in this game but you may only enter the Holiday Event Raffleonce, regardless of how many times you reach 500 words.
Each character may only drink one tea, so choose wisely. You may enter as many characters as you wish, though.
Feel free to RP out Madame asking her questions, if that helps the flow of your story. She's a cryptic woman, though, so she won't explain anything more than what's listed below.
Your character must drink the tea at the time of the exchange. The magic is only potent while the drink is hot and Madame wants her cup back, after all.
Magical effects will last as long as the player likes, up to the end of the Holiday event. After the event ends, all magic tea side effects will wane.
Participation points will be awarded as follows:
If you write 500 words in response to one of the sets of questions to claim your cup of tea you can claim ONE raffle ticket for the general holiday raffle thread. (Max: 1 per player, no matter how many characters you write 500 words for)
As well, if you roll/fill something in briefly corresponding to claiming your tea you will receive ONE mini-game raffle ticket for this thread. (Max: 1 per player, no matter how many characters you roll for) for a chance to win an IC RP item of your choosing.
On December 30th we will roll three winners who will have their choice of an IC RP item! Submissions will close at 11:59pm EST on December 29th so that the list can be tallied and winners rolled.
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 3:53 pm
1. Stu-tea-ous
Glancing away at a sudden, curious sound in the background behind you, you turn around to a warm smile from the old lady.
"This tea will help you focus," she explains with a smile, as if knowing of your problem of staying on task. A jar opens up and the dark leaves shift in the jar. "You'll be able to finish whatever needs to be done. After all, there's not much time left for present shopping and gift wrapping, is there?"
Question 1: What do you find the most distracting?
Question 2: What do you feel is the purpose in life - as in, why are you making an effort at all?
Question 3: What makes you the most uncomfortable?
Tea Effects
This tea tastes rather herbal but it's not bad. Soon you find yourself able to focus better... but unfortunately, you hyper-fixate to the point where you fail to focus on anything else.
2. Uni-tea
A group of people pass by behind you and their loud laughter and chatter catch both yours and Madame's eye. Old eyes notice the wistful look on your face and she draws a jar of tea leaves forward.
"One can never have too many friends, you know," she offers sagely, "This tea will help you gain attention. I promise, dear, you'll never feel lonely again. It's a tragic feeling to have, especially around this time of the year."
Question 1: What makes you feel lonely?
Question 2: Who is your closest friend?
Question 3: Is it ever okay to lie to someone?
Tea Effects
This tea tastes rather sweet, almost too much so. As you're leaving the cart, you're soon greeted by a friendly woodland creature. And then another. And another. It seems no matter where you go, animals are now following you and refuse to leave you alone.
3. Tranquili-tea
"I sense something is ailing you, dear," the old woman croons softly. "This tea will help calm your worries and restore inner peace for you. Wouldn't it be nice to not have to worry about anything, anymore? You should be celebrating the season, not stressing over it."
Question 1: Where do you go to find peace?
Question 2: What is your greatest fear?
Question 3: When is it acceptable, if ever, to disobey the law?
Tea Effects
This tea tastes tragically... bland. In fact, after you finish your tea, you realize you soon find everything to be rather bland, much like the beverage. You have lost your ability to care; any emotion is now stunted, both good and bad.
4. Plen-tea
"I see that you desire wealth - a sensible aspiration, of course. Security comes with knowing that you'll never want for anything."
A jar is brought forward, jaundice colored nails scraping along the edge of the glass. "This tea will help you gain wealth beyond your imagination. Amusing, how such a small drink can produce so much in return. Sometimes good things come in small packages."
Question 1: What would you do with unlimited wealth?
Question 2: What do you value the most?
Question 3: What is the one thing you cannot live without?
Tea Effects
This tea has a rather becoming floral taste to it. As you return to your daily life, you soon find that everything that happens to you happens in some large magnitude. Instead of being given a piece of chocolate, you're given a box. Instead of waking up to finding one pimple on your face, you now have fifteen. One bill turns into five and no matter what you do, everything now happens plentifully -- whether you want it to or not.
5. Divini-tea
"Ah, yes. I see it now-- it's all so clear. You, my dear, seek a special sort of gift this season. The kind that keeps on giving, hm?" There's a twinkle in her eye as she crushes a bit of dried root to dust in a small, marble bowl before adding it to the brew.
"This one's not for everyone, but I'm sure you already knew that..."
Question 1: What do you want your final words to be?
Question 2: If you had the choice to know the date and circumstance of your death, would you?
Question 3: What is the meaning of life?
Tea Effects
This tea tastes astonishingly bitter and is almost difficult to swallow down but you manage. As you return to your daily life you find yourself experiencing extreme forms of deja-vous to the point where you're not entirely sure you haven't experienced this life, or something like it, before. Just as you start to think you might actually know things you're overcome with an overwhelming sense of dread-- you start to feel as though maybe you should stay inside until this feeling wears off, no matter how long that might be.
6. Affini-tea
Madame offers you a wink. "Searching for that special someone still? Maybe you've got your heart set on someone already but need that extra bit of courage to win over their attention?"
Old, wrinkled hands unscrew a nearby jar and you catch a waft of what you think may be cinnamon as she continues. "This tea will help you find that courage, dear, if not a partner for you to find romance with. You don't want to be alone for the holidays after all, do you?"
Question 1: Who do you love the most?
Question 2: Would you give your life for a stranger?
Question 3: What is the nicest thing you have done for a person?
Tea Effects
This tea tastes spicy in flavor, leaving a tingle on your tongue and down the back of your throat as you drink it. If there's someone in particular on your mind, you now can't seem to stop thinking about them - to the point of obsession. You feel the strange compulsion to act out on this obsession to become this person's obsession as well. If there's no one reserved for your heart, you unfortunately begin to feel this way towards the first individual that makes a sweet gesture or comment to you.
Destiny City Crew
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Destiny City Crew
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2018 9:42 am
After you have participated in Madame's Tea Cart, feel free to design your own teacup to your liking!
The template is fully customizable and easily labeled and can be colored / edited to the player's liking! You may color as many teacups as you'd like, as long as you play the game at least once.
Make them for your own characters, for other people's characters, anything! Just have fun with it!
When Marnie had found out about the carnival, she had immediately called up her bestie and demanded that she come with her to it. It was everything she could have wanted or asked for when it came to a fun holiday-themed affair.
It wasn't like those stupid school run carnivals or even like the state fair, it was something more out of one of her spellbooks and she couldn't wait to see what sorts of things she could pick up from it.
She needed some new crystals and the new age store never seemed to have an updated selection, like BOR-ING.
And at some point, Bee-bae had wandered off to look at this collection of leather-made bags and, because it was cold, Marnie had found herself at a tea cart.
Well, it'd looked like a potions cart and she'd been so stoked about maybe meeting another witch but it was tea and she was a little disappointed.
So she listened to the spiel and, since she didn't have anything to trade on her, she had to pick the questions.
"You're kinda spooky," she blurted out, blue eyes wide when she'd realized what she'd done. "Um, questions now please."
Nuxaz
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Nuxaz
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2018 10:33 am
6. Affini-tea
Madame offers you a wink. "Searching for that special someone still? Maybe you've got your heart set on someone already but need that extra bit of courage to win over their attention?"
Old, wrinkled hands unscrew a nearby jar and you catch a waft of what you think may be cinnamon as she continues. "This tea will help you find that courage, dear, if not a partner for you to find romance with. You don't want to be alone for the holidays after all, do you?"
Question 1: Who do you love the most?
Question 2: Would you give your life for a stranger?
Question 3: What is the nicest thing you have done for a person?
Tea Effects This tea tastes spicy in flavor, leaving a tingle on your tongue and down the back of your throat as you drink it. If there's someone in particular on your mind, you now can't seem to stop thinking about them - to the point of obsession. You feel the strange compulsion to act out on this obsession to become this person's obsession as well. If there's no one reserved for your heart, you unfortunately begin to feel this way towards the first individual that makes a sweet gesture or comment to you.
Luckily for her Madame (which, Marnie had to really restrain from asking her if that was, in fact, her name because how much further could she stick her foot in her mouth and hope she didn't get poisoned tea) didn't seem too bothered by the fact she'd been called spooky and when she decided to speak, the question made Marnie's brain sputter and stutter.
"W-what?" It was as if the goth girl couldn't even fathom such a question. Sure, she didn't exactly have a love-life but that was because dating was effort and she could only swipe through dating apps for so long before she would be forced to go out and meet someone and that just sounded completely and utterly, awful.
Besides, it wasn't like she had an easy way to meet people. She was home-schooled (and basically graduated at this point) and she was content with the friends she did have. Which were mostly Maggie and Bea and..Rasputin, her familiar. They were great, all she really needed!
And she sorta dated. She wasn't like, stuck in celibacy because she had to be, it was sort of an active choice. She'd rather spend her time lazing around at home or with Beatrice---
Oh.
Oh.
Well she didn't want to think about that.
"Um, I don't know. Can we like, just get to the questions already?" Marnie pleaded, because that sounded better.
Except when they got to the questions and her face blanked again.
"Note to self, don't agree to play twenty questions with a strange lady serving tea from what looks like the cart she lives in," Marnie muttered to herself under her breath, but braced herself to try and answer as needed.
"Rasputin," she answered truthfully, ignoring the skeptical and disbelieving look. "Hey," she protested, folding her arms across her chest in a huff. "He's my familiar and he's always around and he cuddles with me when I'm sad. He is who I love the most. You didn't say it had to be like a human person. Hmph."
The second question was easier to answer, it was less evasive. "Probably not, that just, I dee kay, feels like too much effort." And it'd probably ruin her outfit. Pass.
And then the third question came about and she frowned, fidgeting, because she didn't know how to answer that. How did you qualify what the nicest thing was when the point of being nice wasn't about being nice?
"I dunno how to answer that one," she said as truthfully as she could. "Because like, I could view it as something really nice to have done for someone but like, what if they didn't think it was very nice at all? I guess, I guess I would say that making sure my door is always open for my bestie is the nicest thing I've ever done? Because it means that like she's always welcome to come over and like she has a safe space with me for everything."
Marnie shrugged uncomfortably but it seemed to appease Madame. "No, no I don't want to be alone for the holidays." And she thought of Bea, who'd come over to help her set up her white Christmas tree so they could decorate it with handmade ornaments. "But, um, I don't think I'll have to be."
Her mom was out on flights so she wouldn't be home, but if she asked, she knew Bea would find a way to spend it with her.
Madame gave her the tea, and she started to sip on it, wandering off while thinking of her very bestest best friend.
((this was written pre-fix of the game rules for anyone who might be confused))
Nuxaz rolled 1 6-sided dice:
6Total: 6 (1-6)
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2018 11:30 am
6. Affini-tea
Madame offers you a wink. "Searching for that special someone still? Maybe you've got your heart set on someone already but need that extra bit of courage to win over their attention?"
Old, wrinkled hands unscrew a nearby jar and you catch a waft of what you think may be cinnamon as she continues. "This tea will help you find that courage, dear, if not a partner for you to find romance with. You don't want to be alone for the holidays after all, do you?
Quote:
Tea Effects This tea tastes spicy in flavor, leaving a tingle on your tongue and down the back of your throat as you drink it. If there's someone in particular on your mind, you now can't seem to stop thinking about them - to the point of obsession. You feel the strange compulsion to act out on this obsession to become this person's obsession as well. If there's no one reserved for your heart, you unfortunately begin to feel this way towards the first individual that makes a sweet gesture or comment to you.
The idea of a carnival, one that wasn't just made up of rides but booths more like a fair with trades and goods he might not have seen otherwise had appealed to Tristan's photographer nature. It had been sometime since he'd dedicated time to taking photographs that weren't for jobs, which he was eternally grateful that Fiona helped him to get all of those jobs, but he was looking forward to doing some personal photography and developing. It had led him to Madame's cart, the appeal of warm tea on an otherwise chilly night had long legs carrying him across the grounds until he'd come to stop before her stall.
He could smell the wafting scents of a variety of selections and, if she hadn't pressed him anyway, Tristan was certain that he would have asked for her to pick regardless.
Around his neck was his camera, it's bag slung across his back and was fiddling with the settings before he took a picture, right when Madame turned around to face him. His cheeks, mostly hidden by his scarf, reddened from something other than the cold and he made himself listen to what she was saying with as much interest as he could muster.
"Something sentimental or important to me?" He asked, wanting to insure that he had understood correctly. When she assured him that yes, he would have to give her something 'important' to him in exchange for tea of her choosing or answer a series of questions he tugged the bag over his stomach and rifled through it until he found the slightly worn leather wallet that Fiona had gifted him his first Christmas as Tristan instead of...the man he was before.
There wasn't much that Tristan carried on him that he would consider a price he was willing to with, but he did keep a carefully folded series of pictures of the people that were important to him tucked into his wallet. They were all candids, pictures snapped when Tristan didn't think that the subject was paying much attention and it had been during the developing process, watching the images unfold as they sat in the developer, that he had realized how completely and utterly fond of all of those people he was.
The one that sat on top had contained a photograph of Charlie, caught in a rare moment where she wasn't looking at him, the next, Fiona, working in the kitchen to prepare a meal for all of her special friends, and then there was a photograph of Danny, playing with Gatsby, in his kitchen with the dog licking at his face and the blonde laughing, and a picture of Mary, one he'd gotten when she wasn't paying attention during a visit to her home. Even just looking at them now made his heart ache with fondness.
He didn't see any of them that often, but they were so very near and dear to his heart regardless. Surviving his leap of faith would have been utterly impossible without their presence in his life even if it had only been temporary.
"Would this suffice? I don't go anywhere without it," he explained, offering the worn photographs to the woman. He still had the negatives, he could re-develop copies to tuck away into his wallet again, but he hoped that it was enough.
Madame seemed complacent about the gift and offered him tea in return. "Thank you," he told her, tucking his wallet away again and accepting her tea.
Her words confused him, he wasn't looking for anyone to spend the holidays with-- it hadn't even occurred to him that that was a thing, because he so desperately didn't want to burden anyone while he was still very much working on himself, but her words were on his mind when he turned, taking a sip of the affectionate inducing tea, the liquid hot on his tongue when he swallowed.
Nuxaz
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Nuxaz rolled 1 6-sided dice:
4Total: 4 (1-6)
Nuxaz
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2018 11:41 am
4. Plen-tea
"I see that you desire wealth - a sensible aspiration, of course. Security comes with knowing that you'll never want for anything."
A jar is brought forward, jaundice colored nails scraping along the edge of the glass. "This tea will help you gain wealth beyond your imagination. Amusing, how such a small drink can produce so much in return. Sometimes good things come in small packages."
Question 1: What would you do with unlimited wealth?
Question 2: What do you value the most?
Question 3: What is the one thing you cannot live without?
Quote:
Tea Effects This tea has a rather becoming floral taste to it. As you return to your daily life, you soon find that everything that happens to you happens in some large magnitude. Instead of being given a piece of chocolate, you're given a box. Instead of waking up to finding one pimple on your face, you now have fifteen. One bill turns into five and no matter what you do, everything now happens plentifully -- whether you want it to or not.
AMItotic rolled 1 6-sided dice:
5Total: 5 (1-6)
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2018 8:00 pm
Suri didn't care much for carnivals, with their bright lights and crowds of people and fried foods of questionable origin. They were dirty, claustrophobic affairs, and given the choice Suri would rather be working on her research or home with her cat any day. That said, she'd been challenged with the notion that she was too stuffy, didn't get out enough, and the sting to Suri's pride was stronger than her natural impulse to be a homebody. She'd made it a point to dress in something tastefully festive, to doll up her hair with wintery blue and white ribbons, and look every bit the part of someone who knew how to have a good time.
However, in all her planning and considerations, she'd forgotten one tiny little detail; she hadn't bothered to invite anyone to join her.
Now she lingered at the edge of the carnival grounds, feeling a bit foolish and dressed up for nothing. Still, determined not to let her efforts go to waste, she followed the familiar smell of hot tea to its source at a dilapidated stand with some...less than pleasant woman. Suri was apprehensive about her approach until she reminded herself that she had no reason to fear this crone. She was a general of the Negaverse, she commanded a cohort of Metallia's troops and killed and maimed for her glory. Under her skin was a dark power only a handful of people could ever claim to know, and with her own hands she had felled both man and monster. Zircon had no reason to ever show fear.
Suri, however, fidgeted awkwardly as she waited for her turn in the queue, trying not to make too much eye contact. "Oh...an item close to my heart?" She couldn't help it--her nose crinkled at this little game of trades. It was easy enough to swipe her card for a cup of tea to stave off the cold in her joints, but this woman was being difficult. Something close to her? Then why would she want to exchange it for a drink?
"...No, actually, thank you." Tight-lipped, she started to turn to leave, but the woman offered her an alternative instead. Three questions. A little game. Suri huffed, but after she'd gotten all dolled up and waited in line, what did she have to lose except her temper?
"Fine. Ask away."
The witchy woman smiled knowingly, making a ritual of setting down the cup, scooping up a blend to steep. "What do you want your final words to be?" she asked.
Suri's eyes flickered and her shoulders tensed, expecting something a bit more...holiday themed. "Well, that's a little dark for the season, isn't it?" Suri scoffed in response, but the woman only smiled expectantly, nodding her head. In the lingering silence Suri folded her arms together, and eventually she huffed. "Something simple, I suppose. Like 'thank you'."
The tea-keeper smiled, twirling the infuser with lazy gnarled hands. "If you had the choice to know the date and circumstance of your death, would you?"
Suri did not have to think of that one--all at once, her expression went flat. "No." She resisted the urge to place a hand just under her ribcage, to stop the bleeding of a wound she'd never actually received.
If the crone noticed, she said nothing, humming along to herself as she watched the hot water take on a pleasant amber hue. "And lastly, what is the meaning of life?"
Suri closed her eyes and sighed. No cup of tea was worth the crisis of mortality this woman was trying to instill in her, but she had gotten too far to just leave. "To produce something that outlives you," Suri responded dryly, fidgeting with the sleeves of her cardigan. The old woman nodded along, painstakingly slow in sliding the dainty cup across the linen-covered table, and the moment Suri had the cup in arm's reach she snatched for it with quivering hands, only just having enough sense to pause at her lips and blow to cool the drink before taking a sip.
At once, her taste buds were attacked with a bitter flavor, though Suri didn't broadcast her discomfort simply because she was already using that pinched-face expression. "This is--" Suri began, prepared with an arsenal of barbed words to describe her dissatisfied experience, but the shopkeeper had already moved on to the next customer, blissfully unaware of the way Suri fumed. She tried to speak again, and the tea woman placed an ugly, wrinkled hand over hers, which made Suri's stomach curdle.
"Be a dear and leave the cup when you're done? But I'm sure you already knew that," the shopkeeper winked, then pulled her touch away, leaving Suri flustered and disgusted. She was done with this game and humiliation--in one bitter gulp, she finished the rest of her tea and set the cup down, then pushed herself to her feet, stamping away from the cart at a pace too determined to be graceful.
Why, never in her life had she been so thoroughly dismissed by a wretched creature...or, perhaps she'd done something similar years ago? It all felt so familiar...
Madame's Tea Cart. It was a tired, old-looking cart run by a tired, old-looking woman. But the sign was bright, and lovely, and Giulia made her way to it with eager interest, peering with interest at the steam rising from cups of tea being poured and crafted for other customers; her small nose twitched at the smell of the liquid, her heart thumping at the idea of- tea! Something warm, and probably sugar-free, meaning she could have extra desserts, and... it was all the low, low cost of... Free? Well, at least money free. Something that meant something to her... or answer three questions.
Questions sounded like it could be easier, and the blonde pursed her lips, finally nodding her head to the woman, and pointing to the Uni-tea. “I like friends,” she said firmly, “The more the better.” Giulia didn't think she was particularly lonely, there were people around her all the time! Jada, or Aidan, or the house staff, or her classmates, or the ballet class... so many people that sometimes it was easy to fade into anonymity, just another little girl walking down the street. That was... well. Even her best friend was older than she was, and would be going to a different school soon.
“I guess... I'm lonely when there are lots of people around.” It was an easy answer to the first of the questions, and Giulia wondered if the answer was cheating. “So many people and you don't feel special at all. And when you're special, you get attention, and people love you and want to be your friend. I like being loved, and I like being wanted.” She wasn't a baby anymore, after all. She wanted to be useful, and loved for it! She wanted to be happy, and make other people happy too. She could do that... if she was special.
The next question was harder, and Giulia paused, considering it. Who was her closest friend? Was it Itsuki the kitty, who had made her Charybdis? Was it Boop, who came and played with her when she used her senshi magic? Or Lucia, who was her bestest friend, but was so busy with more grown things, and a better fighter, and... or was it Aidan? Her twin brother, her other half, the one who knew her best in the world, and all her deepest, darkest secrets? “I... suppose it would be my brother...” she told the woman after a moment. “He isn't my best friend, but he's my closest.”
The final question? It was answered with a quick, unequivocal “Yes.” Giulia's face was firm, stern. “It is 100% okay and good to lie to someone if it makes them happy, and safe.” She had learned that from Jada. Jada lied about her mother, and said Mommy had loved Aidan and her. Jada lied about who their daddy was, until he'd died- because he would have taken them from her and been mean, like he was when he took Hope away. And Giulia had lied at first about being Charybdis, so Jada wouldn't worry. She still lied, sometimes- sneaking out on patrols and fighting the Nega Furce.
After the questions were answered, the tea was passed over to her, and she took a small sip of it at first. Ooo, it was yummy and sweet. A little cloying, and the sweet stuck to her tongue, but it wasn't bad. Happily, the little girl finished off her drink, feeling the warmth drip through her veins. Oh, it was really, really yummy! “Thank you!” she chirped to the elderly madame, beaming at her with guileless blue eyes, “I hope you have really happy holidays!” she scampered away, considering the next place the wanted to go... not noticing the way a little squirrel paused, nose sniffing in her direction.
Words: 635
2. Uni-tea
A group of people pass by behind you and their loud laughter and chatter catch both yours and Madame's eye. Old eyes notice the wistful look on your face and she draws a jar of tea leaves forward.
"One can never have too many friends, you know," she offers sagely, "This tea will help you gain attention. I promise, dear, you'll never feel lonely again. It's a tragic feeling to have, especially around this time of the year."
Question 1: What makes you feel lonely?
Question 2: Who is your closest friend?
Question 3: Is it ever okay to lie to someone?
Tea Effects
This tea tastes rather sweet, almost too much so. As you're leaving the cart, you're soon greeted by a friendly woodland creature. And then another. And another. It seems no matter where you go, animals are now following you and refuse to leave you alone.
Rolled 2 Dria had offered something… odd. She didn’t know if it was something one could call sentimental – but she felt close to it and it was the only thing she had on her at the time, that could be counted as such – if it could even be counted as such. She certainly always kept it with her these days, as a reminder of lost time, the time she had lost with her family after the accident, four whole years. The item was none other than the piece of coral that had lodged in her brain stem and dislodged her memory for so long. After the emergency surgery that removed it and saved her life, she had had it cleaned, put on a chain and now wore it everywhere. As she took it off to hand to Madame, there was some hesitance on both their parts- a look of disgust followed on Madame’s face, but she took it anyway. Dria was willing to part with it because something definitely wrong and Madame seemed to know what it was. Dria had just changed schools and hadn’t made any new friends yet. She was quite lonely. So, when Madame offered her the Uni-Tea, she gulped it down. It was almost too sweet and nearly made her sick. She stepped away from the cart and went to look for her brother and sister, Drew and Dani, who were here also. No sooner than she made ten yards from the cart, a fluffy wild bunny hopped up to say hello. It did so by nuzzling her snow boots with its fuzzy cheeks. “Ah how cute,” Someone said. Dria smiled, nodded and petted it. She walked on, but it followed it, and soon a fawn trotted straight out of the woods and nudged her hip with its nose. “Oh boy,” she said, “This cannot be good.” As she said it, the Mama Deer followed, and then licked her face, with its rough tongue. Soon the enough herd was following her around, along with five bunnies, six squirrels, four hedgehogs, and nine ducks. “I hope this tea wears off and soon!” She yelled to herself, beside the people evacuated at the site of her. Drew and Dani came to help her though, and for some reason, at the site of Dani, the woodland creatures fled the site. Dria now realized that she had true friends in her brother and sister Drew and Dani, and their friends, and did not need to drink any special tea to get fake ones! OR Fawning (get it?) Woodlawn ones. Dria would remember this lesson for times to come. When she returned to the shop cart to ask for a refund – the cart was gone, and no one seemed to remember it or where it gone. As Dria remembered now, the Madame did try to warn NO REFUNDS EVER, NO MATTER WHAT! YOU HAVE BE WARNED! Dria now remembered Madame pointing, no jabbing her gnarled finger at the peeling yellow inked sign several times as well. Oh well. 505 WC
Nimue had been enjoying the carnival. Certainly the games and such had been lovely and fun and had gotten her out of the house. But, deep down, she wanted something a bit… quieter. And Madame’s tea cart seemed to fit that desire perfectly. Sure the cart was old looking and completely lacking in glamour, but to Nimue, it held a gentle, serene charm. She hurried over and studied the teas and cups curiously. Madame herself was a little creepy, but Nimue shoved that thought away. As far as she was concerned, everyone she didn’t know was a little creepy. That was just something she was going to have to work on.
Listening intently as Madame made her offer, the tall girl thought hard. She had so few things anymore that truly meant anything to her, could she really bear to part with one of them? No. No, she could not. Smiling a little sheepishly, she sighed and addressed the old woman.
“I’m sorry, I don’t have enough good memories to feel comfortable giving any up. So, I guess I’ll answer your questions.”
Was it weird that the old lady seemed like she understood? Nimue couldn’t help wondering when Madame simply nodded and indicated the available teas. Nimue was ready to just reach haphazardly for one when a small group of holiday revelers passed by. For a moment, Nimue felt tears pricking her eyes. How nice it would have been to have people to spend time with. Oh, she had Niamh and she knew her cousin loved her. But Niamh was busy so often. It was stupid and selfish to think she could monopolize all her her time.
Once again, Madame seemed to pick up on Nimue’s thought. Pulling the girl’s attention back to the teas, the old woman readied a cup and waved her fingers towards the slip of paper just under. So. These would be the questions she had to answer truthfully. Taking a deep breath, she held the slip of paper up and thought. Well, Madame was promising that she wouldn’t feel so lonely if she drank. And really, at this point, she was willing to try it and see what happened.
“Okay, let’s see here. What makes me feel lonely? I know you’re not going to believe me or think that I’m being flippant, but well, honestly? Everything. It’s hard to explain, but even in a crowd, I feel cut off, disconnected from everyone. And meeting new people kind of scares me, though I really don’t know why…”
A shake of her head to dispel the gloomy thoughts and she moved on to the next question. Too much introspection was bad for her.
“My closest friend? Easy peasy! That’s my cousin, Niamh. She’s kind of cranky and might be a sociopathic runt, but I love her to bits. And when she’s not busy working, she’s super fun to hang around. Next!”
Ooof! Nimue stared at the third question for a few moments, trying to sort out her thoughts and feelings on the subject. Madame did not ******** around, apparently.
“Is it ever okay to lie to someone,” she murmured quietly. “I think it depends on the circumstances. If the lie is there to protect someone, then possibly. It really depends on what they’re being protected from. Too many greys and subtleties there. Now, if the lie is being told to purposefully harm? Then no. It’s not ever okay. Lies told out of selfishness are bad too. You really don’t play around, do you?”
All that got from Madame was a smile as she was handed a cup of steaming tea. Drinking it down and trying to ignore how incredibly sweet it was, Nimue gasped a little once she finished and handed the pretty cup back. She wasn’t entirely sure what was supposed to happen now, but as flocks of people weren’t racing for her, she shrugged and laughed a little as she thanked Madame and walked away from the cart. As she passed under a tree, she heard an odd chittering before feeling a small, hard body hit her shoulder. Glancing down, she saw a small squirrel perching on her and squeaking away happily.
Freezing for a moment, she wondered if the critter was rabid, then took note of how relaxed the squirrel was. It was just hitching a ride. And as she began to unfreeze, the critter reared up enough to hook it’s tiny, paws on her ear and nuzzle her cheek.
Laughing in delight, Nimue returned the caress and kept walking. Only to see a bright red cardinal flying and keeping pace with her. Okay, that was kind of weird… But something that she could shrug off.
At least until she got closer to home and had a tiny menagerie of critters in tow.
“Goddammit! She turned me into a friggin’ Disney princess!”
810 Words
2. Uni-tea
A group of people pass by behind you and their loud laughter and chatter catch both yours and Madame's eye. Old eyes notice the wistful look on your face and she draws a jar of tea leaves forward.
"One can never have too many friends, you know," she offers sagely, "This tea will help you gain attention. I promise, dear, you'll never feel lonely again. It's a tragic feeling to have, especially around this time of the year."
Question 1: What makes you feel lonely?
Question 2: Who is your closest friend?
Question 3: Is it ever okay to lie to someone?
Tea Effects
This tea tastes rather sweet, almost too much so. As you're leaving the cart, you're soon greeted by a friendly woodland creature. And then another. And another. It seems no matter where you go, animals are now following you and refuse to leave you alone.
Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2018 4:19 pm
Whilst Ashley had been hoping that her father's business associate and his wife wouldn't want to spend too much longer at the carnival once they were out of the ice maze, a small wooden cart had ended up catching their attention.
Ashley had offered to go and buy some more hot chocolate whilst they they took a better look at whatever the woman running the cart was doing, but they had insisted that they could always go for hot chocolate afterwards–
And so Ashley had ended up following them over to take in a cart that had most certainly seen better days, a part of her wondering just what the pair with her actually saw in the thing - at least until she got closer and smelt the scent of what appeared to be freshly made tea.
Tea.
Ashley wouldn't and didn't think of herself as a particularly big tea drinker, but she enjoyed indulging in a cup from time to time because it reminded her of home and of afternoon tea and of cake and tea.
The sign in contrast to the actual cart itself had the words 'Madame's Tea Cart' in gilded swirls of silver and gold that looked almost freshly done and whilst it also had the words 'not for the faint of heart' shakily scrawled in black, Ashley had pretty much committed herself to checking out the cart–
And besides it was tea, she had no earthly idea what about tea could be faint of heart causing. Bitter yes, if it was one of the stronger blends, but faint of heart?
She shook her head slightly, the gesture seemingly catching the attention of the old woman who had pulled out a handful of jars, marked with hand-written labels that appeared to be yellowing and peeling.
Yellowing and peeling - it was enough to make Ashley certain that she most certainly didn't want to taste the contents to the point where she had started to half turn.
The old lady running the stall, piped up before she could complete the turn however, her words intriguing enough that Ashley found herself staying despite herself.
She frowned however at the mention of a trade of an item dear to her heart, a part of her thinking that maybe she should walk away after all - after all she didn't have anything that would exactly fit the bill and she wouldn't trade such a thing even if she had had something like that on her by chance, but then the old woman had mentioned that they could also answer questions as an alternative.
Both her father's business associate and his wife had seemed quite keen on answering the questions and Ashley couldn't think of any real reason to decline and so she had pointed on the closest tea to her and said that she would answer the questions.
She had frowned thoughtfully at the first question, not really sure what she would do with unlimited wealth but had eventually answered "I'd invest some, I think for the just in case and travel a bit - but I'd also finish off my studies because I couldn't really see myself being just a lady of leisure," and that went for both the Ashley front and the Reinerite front - although there was no way that she would admit to anything about the things that she did as Reinerite.
The next question asked her what she valued the most and once again Ashley found herself considering the question.
"The freedom to be much more than just the middle Williams sister" because that was the one thing that moving to the States to study had given her.
The final question was perhaps the hardest, Ashley not sure if she could just pick just one thing that she couldn't live without, but eventually she went with "My ability to strive to be better" and whilst it was clear that her father's business associate didn't really get her answers and neither did his wife, it seemed that they were enough for the old woman.
The tea that was poured into the cup had a pleasant floral taste, but as nothing else happened at the time, Ashley didn't think anything of it as both herself and her companions finally left the stall and went off for the hot chocolate that she had suggested earlier–
And neither did she put down, the very much strange way that things started happening to her in a large magnitude shortly after the Carnival, from the huge box of chocolate that she received randomly instead of the bar that she'd been planning to receive to the sudden flood of letters that had for some reason all been delivered on the same day.
No she put it down to Destiny City and the way weird things seemed to be relatively normal in the city.
-- 806 words --
Quote:
4. Plen-tea
"I see that you desire wealth - a sensible aspiration, of course. Security comes with knowing that you'll never want for anything."
A jar is brought forward, jaundice colored nails scraping along the edge of the glass. "This tea will help you gain wealth beyond your imagination. Amusing, how such a small drink can produce so much in return. Sometimes good things come in small packages."
Question 1: What would you do with unlimited wealth?
Question 2: What do you value the most?
Question 3: What is the one thing you cannot live without?
Tea Effects This tea has a rather becoming floral taste to it. As you return to your daily life, you soon find that everything that happens to you happens in some large magnitude. Instead of being given a piece of chocolate, you're given a box. Instead of waking up to finding one pimple on your face, you now have fifteen. One bill turns into five and no matter what you do, everything now happens plentifully -- whether you want it to or not.
Margaret Butler had very little free time to spend but when she spent it, she did her best to maximize all efforts and really spend it.
When her birthday arrived (when in the hell had December come, much less the tail end of it??) there were no plans to be made, either by herself or by any of her few companions. Dan was off doin' whatever it was Dan was up to these days and Kat....
Well, they hadn't exactly made up since that time Kat had been ignorin' her when she'd almost choked to death on a flippin' waffle. Mags hadn't taken the reaction in stride very well, returning home to lick her wounds and even toss out the leftover waffles. Gettin' in a fight with a best friend was never easy and it wasn't something that Mags had ever really experienced before. Not many people stuck around so the blonde gal wasn't sure what she should do in a situation like this. Give her space? Approach her? Do nothing??
So that's how Mags found herself wandering around the winter carnival on the anniversary of her birth, hands shoved in her jeans pockets as she ambled around the place. There weren't any booths sellin' crap that she thought she'd want, which was probably good because the holiday tips had been used mostly towards rent and the utilities bill, which seemed to soak up all of her extra because of the heat she had to use during this time of year. Sheesh. How in the heck were people supposed to live off of one paycheck alone??
An odd little stand caught her attention, worn out sneakers carrying her over to the haggard looking older woman who was messing around with some sort of jars. It took her a moment to realize the lady was selling drinks, Mags fully prepared to wander off when the old gal stopped her, waving her closer with a gnarled, weathered finger. There was a slight hesitation, then the young woman stepped forward as she offered her an attempt at a smile.
"Not gonna waste your time, ma'am," Mags was quick to toss out, "Don't have much to spend on non-essentials, if y'know what Ah mean."
"I don't want your money, dear," the old woman said with a smile, shaking her head as if silently tickled by the blonde's comment. Mags was confused... but intrigued. "If you answer three questions, I'll give you a drink for free."
Questions?
Mags knew she wasn't the brightest bulb in the lamp or package or however the saying went but it seemed a lil bit sketchy. Free stuff for answers? If something was too good to be true, it prolly was.... but she was getting really thirsty....
"What kinda questions?"
"Simple ones."
The six foot girl paused, musing to herself as light colored eyebrows furrowed. It was hard to think of some way the woman could be tricking her - a drink was just a drink. Maybe the old bat was one of those rich kooks who ran around throwing money at folks in various ways? Mags could manage simple questions, she was almost sure of it... but did someone really want something for little more than nothing but a bloomin' conversation?
Whatever the reason was, Mags found herself agreeing as arms folded themselves across her chest. The old jacket wrapped around her brushed against her fingertips, the old material growing more flimsy as the day grew old. She'd have to buy another one eventually... maybe when they went on sale after the winter season. She could tough it out for a few more months, probably.
The woman began concocting her tea blend as she asked her first question:
"What do you want your final words to be?"
Final words? What in the....
Mags wasn't sure what context the question was being asked, though it sounded pretty gosh darn morbid from the way she was phrasing it. Final words? As in, the last thing she said before she kicked the bucket and went to visit the pasture in the sky?
"Bye, Ah guess?"
Did people really get a choice in what to say before they die?
The second question wasn't any more reassuring than the first:
"If you had the choice to know the date and circumstance of your death, would you?"
Hell's bells. This woman was being all morbid and creepy 'n stuff. Mags had half a mind to ditch the offer and make her way past the old rickety booth but she was already halfway through the questions (right? Or maybe half of a halfway through?) and it wasn't like she was being picked on or nothin'... she was just asking some really bizarre crap.
"Ah mean.... it wouldn't hurt, Ah suppose?" Then again, it might hurt, dependin' on how she was supposed to go out. "Not like you can change it, if it's gonna happen then it's gonna happen, right?"
That sounded... okay enough for an answer, didn't it?
Then the third and final question was asked, Mags already wary, based on how the previous two had gone:
"What is the meaning of life?"
Huh.
Well, it definitely wasn't as foreboding as the other questions but it was definitely a brain twister, for sure. At least, for anyone that wasn't Margaret Butler.
"Aw, that's easy. To eat as many waffles as you can and find the right people to share 'em with -- gotta enjoy the little things because it's the little things that make up the big ones!"
Triumphantly she rested her hands on her hips, up until the smiling old kook offered her the cup of tea, which Mags downed a little too quickly. Almost immediately, she had some of a weird, funky feeling -- like a sense she'd done this before... which couldn't have happened, right, since this was the first time she'd seen the place?
Scratching her head, she thanked the lady at the old booth and continued on her journey, wandering around aimlessly through the event ---- though now feeling a little more off than before.
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2018 12:02 pm
Kaileen occausionly had tea in the morning and sometimes if she wanted to feel relax she had some carmole tea. She wasn't really good at brewing them like some people are. She had seen on the internet something called "Your eating it wrong" which told people how to eat and drink certain food and beverages the right way. Things like Sushi, tacos, lobster, and crabs and crawfish to name a few. Kaileen never knew that there was a right or wrong way to not only drink tea but prepare it. And she noticed that a majority of the people who do drink tea would use small cups. She only had the large ones. She would pour only a little at a time in them.
She looked at the stall in front of her. It read "Madame's Tea Cart." The women behind it was offering tea. But she wanted something in return. Either a personal item from Kaileen that meant sentimental value or for her to answer questions. Kaileen opted out on the personal item one. Anything personal that meant sentimental value was either in a safe deposit box or home in a show box, or in boxes in her closet. Items that reminded her of her mother.
"I don't have anything of sentimental value on me at the moment. I will answer three questions instead."
Kaileen picked answering questions instead. Besides that seemed more easier and she wouldn't have to give up anything. What harm would come out of it? They are just questions.
"I will go with the Uni-tea."
The first question was what made her lonely.
Kaileen had to think about it. She looked at the last.
"Well I believe that a person could have everything. Wealth and riches and all the friends in the world but still feel lonely and empty inside."
Kaileen felt like that sometimes. She loved her brothers and father with all her heart but she missed her mother. She missed having a woman saw her though life. Her father tried to buy when it came to things like female Montly problems, or advise on boys he wasn't really keen on things like that.
Holidays were the most painful. Especially mother's day.
"I feel lonely when I go out and see other mother and daughters hanging out. Shopping or having lunch together. I just wish I could enjoy what they are enjoying."
"My closet friend? I don't really have any close friends. I have acquaintances. But bo close friends or anything of the sort."
She did kinda consider the talking guardian cats to be her friend. But she didn't have anyone to hang out with or tell secrets to.
"To answer your second question. I am my closet friend. I am my own friend."
Kaileen hoped that that was a good enough answer.
The third question puzzles her. It just didn't seem to fit with the other questions. But Kaileen answered it anyway.
"I should say no lying of some sort is wrong. But also if the truth will hurt then a little tiny white lie won't be too bad. Who hasn't told at least one lie in their lifetime? I'm sure you have had at one time."
Kaileen drank her tea and smiled at the lady.
"Thank you so much for the tea. It smells and taste so good."
Kaileen walked away and went on her way home. On her way she felt like she was being followed. Before she knew it she was followed by woodland creatures. Rabbits and ... was that a deer?
To indulge was a strange concept after their months of tribulation, but the Negaverse's demands soon abated enough for the three to enjoy some semblance of the life Destiny City offered them. And with the winter carnival going, with every option of activity or food fare, all choices present overloaded the reskinned general. Eion defaulted, then, to what ey knew best. And beyond the dilapidated sign, the stereotypical old woman peddling her wares, the rickety cart that looked left over from a Halloween exhibit, ey caught scent of genuinely decent tea. Not tired Tazo, or weak Stash, or Bigelow's or Lipton or Celestial. Eion pressed on with a quick gesture to his pair of lilliputian compatriots. Tea would chase the unwelcome chill out of eir fur-lined coat, out of flocked stockings and unseasonal shoes.
The faint of heart warning went quickly dismissed — a relic, perhaps meant more for children and those of human descent — and Eion approached the cart with eir only hesitance owing to his companions' closeness to em. But once Gisela and Delphine were near, soliciting the madam was an easy choice.
What she asked in return, however, gave Eion reason to pause. Money was no object with eir deep career so storied now, even as eir investment lifeline flickered and flowed (and largely dropped, to much chagrin), but she declined money. She offered choice where Eion did not want to choose, or she offered her own selection should the youth offer up an item of relevance. But so little remained with em out of that old life, that old husk of Elex Yorke still crumbling in the annals of Eion's mind. Still, there was one trinket remaining on eir person. Heliodor gave it in his last days of Rowan Cameran. A well-intentioned and clueless gift it was, for all Rowan knew of the pocket watch's real purpose. It sat weighty in a coat pocket with every promise that Eion would inevitably shed this too-cold skin. Eion gave the other two an inscrutable look before trading it over to the greedy madam.
The dark twin to Kholat Syakhl's bracelet. You can't have the object's memory just as he can't have the memory's object. Sharp eyes coured her goods while the busied madam responded to other inquiries and bustled about with her new trinket in hand.
