❀ - [Video/Action] - 第五 [中秋節; Mid-Autumn Festival, Discedo]

[meilihua]

[Hopefully by now, most people on Fortuna have somehow received a prettily wrapped package containing four different varieties of home-made mooncake outside their doorstep. Those within Discedo had them hand-delivered; everyone else...hope they made it...]

Hey everyone! I know things have been really crazy recently, but if you have a chance [pause] and are in someplace where it's safe to do it [pause...], you should definitely go outside and take a look up at the moon! If you squint really closely, maybe you'll see Chang'e ( 嫦娥), the moon goddess who lives there, or the Jade Rabbit making medicine!

[A soft, kind of wistful laugh] At least, that's what I would say if we were at home...

Anyway, I hope all my packages made it safely, but even if it's not the same moon, you can definitely still eat the mooncake! There's 4 kinds: lotus-paste, red bean, green tea, and chocolate! Just for variety.

I included egg-yolk in a few of them, but you don't have to eat it if you don't like it.

[Oh wait...] Yeah, and I guess it's China's birthday tomorrow too.

祝你生日快樂，老師！ You're still old, by the way!

Oh, and I don't care if you changed to simplified, you're still going to have to get all your greetings in traditional from me! [Yes, Taiwan did just stick her tongue out in the video. How mature.]

Comments

[meilihua]

You really like sweets, right, Shizuo-san?

1/2

[shortestfuse]

...

2/2

[shortestfuse]

Um.

Sorta.

[meilihua]

We can make lots of desserts then! Maybe something chocolate...?

[shortestfuse]

Chocolate pudding is good.

[meilihua]

Okay! Chocolate pudding is really easy then! Or we could make a mousse...

[shortestfuse]

Or chocolate cheesecake. [ He's getting into this now. ]

[meilihua]

We've got lots of choices! So come over whenever, okay?

[shortestfuse]

Do I... [ A pause. ] Right now?

[meilihua]

Uh-! [That's a panicked look as she tries to remember when was the last time she cleaned] I-if you want to...? If you're not busy-?

[shortestfuse]

Ah, no. If... you're free, that is. I don't work at the bar until later.

[meilihua]

[Quickly, before she loses her courage-] L-let's do it now then! You can come right over!

[shortestfuse]

Yeah, okay. I'll be there in two. [ Sure enough, there is a knock at her door.

He seems to be saving the bartender outfit for a rainy day and is finally in casual wear. ]

[meilihua]

[Taiwan opens the door for him a little slowly - not because she's reluctant to see him, but because she's running a critical eye over everything one more time in case it's not presentable.

As handsome as he looked in his bartender outfit, he does look very presentable in casual clothes as well...]

Wow, that was fast...

[shortestfuse]

[ He's staring through the crack in the door at her until she opens it all the way and his hands tuck behind his head. ]

Well, I live just there, y'know. [ A pause. She looks super cute as always; he appears sheepish now.] Sorry. Shoulda asked first.

[meilihua]

Nono, it's fine-! [Oops, that was said a BIT too quickly...]

W-why don't you come in? [Stepping back so he can get in past the door.]

[shortestfuse]

[ Staring down a bit at her, he's nodding, walking in. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he hums. ]

Ah, your place is nice. The decorations and things.

[meilihua]

[Don't blush, don't blush, don't blush-! Oops...]

A-ah, thank you! It keeps me busy, I guess... [She really doesn't get out much.]

[shortestfuse]

[ He's looking over, staring at her face for a moment.

Her cheeks were all red. Was it that hot in here? He couldn't tell. ]

Keepin' busy's important, here of all places. You gotten used to things?

[meilihua]

Mostly. I guess I'm so used to the craziness that more craziness doesn't seem that bad anymore?

[...though the body switching thing was hella weird]

[shortestfuse]

[ Wow that's pretty much how he felt about everything. Not that his life was too hectic before. ]

That's one way to look at it. Least it's not too scary here.

[meilihua]

Uh...you don't think it's scary here? [Taiwan no, why would you blurt that out-]

[shortestfuse]

[ He looks around a little. ] Nah, it's just a little foggy.

[ It's a lot foggy, Shizuo. ] You're alright. [ Patpat on back.

He's getting accustomed to doing that now!! ]

[meilihua]

Y-yeah, you're right. [deep breaths, Taiwan, you can do this] And I feel a lot safer being here with you anyway.

1/2

[shortestfuse]

[ Shizuo looks at her. Really looks at her.

No one has ever said that to him before; his power has only been used to destroy, but protecting someone...? Ever since he was a child he wondered why he was cursed with the anger and strength he had. So many people were afraid of him. But Taiwan...

It's enough to make him go silent for a moment, cheeks tinted red. ]